Determinantes del uso de Internet para el aprendizaje interactivo: un estudio exploratorio

The use of the Internet in higher education teaching can facilitate the interactive learning process and thus improve educational outcomes. The aim of the study presented here is to explore which variables are linked to higher intensity of Internet-based interactive educational practices. The study is based on data obtained from an online survey of students from three different types of universities: a face-to-face university (University of Barcelona, UB), a technological face-to-face university (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. BarcelonaTech, UPC), and a virtual university (Open University of Catalonia, UOC). The data analysis shows that students who indicate high levels of benefit from Internet usage are those who use it most for interactive learning processes. It also shows the existence of other variables that, regardless of benefit, are linked to the intensity of Internet usage for interactive teaching-learning processes.El uso de internet en la docencia en educación superior puede facilitar la interacción en el proceso de aprendizaje y mejorar así los resultados de la educación. El objetivo del estudio que se presenta es explorar que variables se relacionan con una mayor intensidad de prácticas educativas interactivas mediadas por Internet. Para ello, se parte de los datos obtenidos a través de una encuesta online a estudiantes de tres universidades de características diferenciadas: una presencial (UB), otra presencial también pero tecnológica (UPC), y una tercera virtual (UOC). El análisis de los datos muestra que aquellos estudiantes que manifiestan elevados niveles de utilidad de uso de internet son los que más lo utilizan para la interacción en los procesos de aprendizaje. Sin embargo, también se evidencia la existencia de otras variables que independientemente de la utilidad, se relacionan con la intensidad de uso de internet para la interacción en los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje

Early diversification and permeable species boundaries in the Mediterranean firs

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Inferring the evolutionary relationships of species and their boundaries is critical in order to understand patterns of diversification and their historical drivers. Despite Abies (Pinaceae) being the second most diverse group of conifers, the evolutionary history of Circum-Mediterranean firs (CMF) remains under debate. METHODS: We used restriction site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) on all proposed CMF taxa to investigate their phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic status. KEY RESULTS: Based on thousands of genome-wide SNPs, we present here the first formal test of species delimitation, and the first fully resolved, complete species tree for CMF. We discovered that all previously recognized taxa in the Mediterranean should be treated as independent species, with the exception of A. tazaotana and A. marocana. An unexpectedly early pulse of speciation in the Oligocene-Miocene boundary is here documented for the group, pre-dating previous hypotheses by millions of years, revealing a complex evolutionary history encompassing both ancient and recent gene flow between distant lineages. CONCLUSIONS: Our phylogenomic results contribute to shed light on conifers' diversification. Our efforts to resolve the CMF phylogenetic relationships help refine their taxonomy and our knowledge of their evolutio

How does gender influence the recognition of cardiovascular risk and adherence to self-care recommendations? : a study in polish primary care

Background: Studies have shown a correlation between gender and an ability to change lifestyle to reduce the risk of disease. However, the results of these studies are ambiguous, especially where a healthy lifestyle is concerned. Additionally, health behaviors are strongly modified by culture and the environment. Psychological factors also substantially affect engagement with disease-related lifestyle interventions. This study aimed to examine whether there are differences between men and women in the frequency of health care behavior for the purpose of reducing cardiovascular risk (CVR), as well as cognitive appraisal of this type of risk. We also aimed to identify the psychological predictors of engaging in recommended behavior for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease after providing information about this risk in men and women. Methods: A total of 134 consecutive eligible patients in a family practice entered a longitudinal study. At initial consultation, the individual’s CVR and associated health burden was examined, and preventive measures were recommended by the physician. Self-care behavior, cognitive appraisal of risk, and coping styles were then assessed using psychological questionnaires. Six months after the initial data collection, the frequency of subjects’ self-care behavior was examined. Results: We found an increase in health care behavior after providing information regarding the rate of CVR in both sexes; this increase was greater for women than for men. Women followed self-care guidelines more often than men, particularly for preventive measures and dietary advice. Women were more inclined to recognize their CVR as a challenge. Coping style, cognitive appraisal, age, level of health behaviors at baseline and CVR values accounted for 48% of the variance in adherence to self-care guidelines in women and it was 52% in men. In women, total risk of CVD values were most important, while in men, cognitive appraisal of harm/loss was most important. Conclusions: Different predictors of acquisition of health behavior are encountered in men and women. Our results suggest that gender-adjusted motivation models influencing the recognition process need to be considered to optimize compliance in patients with CVR

The avoidance of G-CSF and the addition of prophylactic corticosteroids after autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma patients appeal for the at-home setting to reduce readmission for neutropenic fever

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remains the standard of care for young multiple myeloma (MM) patients; indeed, at-home ASCT has been positioned as an appropriate therapeutic strategy. However, despite the use of prophylactic antibiotics, neutropenic fever (NF) and hospital readmissions continue to pose as the most important limitations in the outpatient setting. It is possible that the febrile episodes may have a non-infectious etiology, and engraftment syndrome could play a more significant role. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of both G-CSF withdrawal and the addition of primary prophylaxis with corticosteroids after ASCT. Between January 2002 and August 2018, 111 MM patients conditioned with melphalan were managed at-home beginning +1 day after ASCT. Three groups were established: Group A (n = 33) received standard G-CSF post-ASCT; group B (n = 32) avoided G-CSF post-ASCT; group C (n = 46) avoided G-CSF yet added corticosteroid prophylaxis post-ASCT. The incidence of NF among the groups was reduced (64%, 44%, and 24%; P2 (OR 6.1; P = 0.002) and G-CSF avoidance plus corticosteroids (OR 0.1; P<0.001); and for hospital readmission: age �60 years (OR 14.6; P = 0.04) and G-CSF avoidance plus corticosteroids (OR 0.07; P = 0.05. G-CSF avoidance and corticosteroid prophylaxis post ASCT minimize the incidence of NF in MM patients undergoing at-home ASCT. This approach should be explored in a prospective randomized clinical trial

Immunogenic dynamics and SARS-CoV-2 variant neutralisation of the heterologous ChAdOx1-S/BNT162b2 vaccination: Secondary analysis of the randomised CombiVacS study

Background The CombiVacS study was designed to assess immunogenicity and reactogenicity of the heterologous ChAdOx1-S/BNT162b2 combination, and 14-day results showed a strong immune response. The present secondary analysis addresses the evolution of humoral and cellular response up to day 180. Methods Between April 24 and 30, 2021, 676 adults primed with ChAdOx1-S were enrolled in five hospitals in Spain, and randomised to receive BNT162b2 as second dose (interventional group [IG]) or no vaccine (control group [CG]). Individuals from CG received BNT162b2 as second dose and also on day 28, as planned based on favourable results on day 14. Humoral immunogenicity, measured by immunoassay for SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD), antibody functionality using pseudovirus neutralisation assays for the reference (G614), Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants, as well as cellular immune response using interferon-γ and IL-2 immunoassays were assessed at day 28 after BNT162b2 in both groups, at day 90 (planned only in the interventional group) and at day 180 (laboratory data cut-off on Nov 19, 2021). This study was registered with EudraCT (2021-001978-37) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04860739). Findings In this secondary analysis, 664 individuals (441 from IG and 223 from CG) were included. At day 28 post vaccine, geometric mean titres (GMT) of RBD antibodies were 5616·91 BAU/mL (95% CI 5296·49–5956·71) in the IG and 7298·22 BAU/mL (6739·41–7903·37) in the CG (p 1:100 at day 180 (19% and 22%, respectively). Interpretation Titres of RBD antibodies decay over time, similar to homologous regimes. Our findings suggested that delaying administration of the second dose did not have a detrimental effect after vaccination and may have improved the response obtained. Lower neutralisation was observed against Omicron and Beta variants at day 180.Funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII). AMB, AJC, JO, and JF are members of the VACCELERATE (European Corona Vaccine Trial Accelerator Platform) Network, which aims to facilitate and accelerate the design and implementation of COVID-19 phase 2 and 3 vaccine trials. JO is a member of the INsTRuCT (Innovative Training in Myeloid Regulatory Cell Therapy) Consortium, a network of European scientists from academia and industry focused on developing innovative immunotherapies. This work is funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III, a Spanish public body assigned to the Ministry of Science and Innovation that manages and promotes public clinical research related to public health. The Spanish Clinical Trials Platform is a public network funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (grant numbers PTC20/00018 and PT17/0017), the State Plan for Research, Development, and Innovation 2013–16, the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2017–20, and the Subdirectorate General for Evaluation and Promotion of Research, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, cofinanced with FEDER funds. CombiVacS was designed under the umbrella of the VACCELERATE project. VACCELERATE and INsTRuCT received funding from the EU's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (grant agreement numbers 101037867 and 860003). The Instituto de Salud Carlos III is the Spanish partner in the VACCELERATE project. This work is partially funded by Institute of Health Carlos III (Instituto de Salud Carlos III – ISCIII –), (grants PI19CIII/00004 to JA and PI21CIII/00025 to MPO and JGP), and COVID-19 FUND (grants COV20/00679 and COV20/00072 to MPO and JA) and CIBERINFEC, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) “A way to make Europe”

Buenas Prácticas en los Programas Universitarios para Mayores en España

Ana Isabel Muñoz Alcón y Francisco Trullén Galve (Universidad Catolica de Ávila); María P. García de la Torre y Francisco Ascón Belver (Universidad de A Coruña); M. Isabel Luis Rico, Ángel Gañán Adánez, Tamara de la Torre Cruz, Vanesa Baños Martínez (Universidad de Burgos); Yolanda Lázaro Fernández y Jaime Cuenca Amigo (Universidad de Deusto); Camino Caballero Posado (Universidad de Extremadura); Mª Adoración Holgado Sánchez y Mª Teresa Ramos Bernal (Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca); Sara Serrate González, Javier Alba Barrios y José Manuel Muñoz Rodríguez; Miguel Ángel Nombela Castaño (Universidad de Vigo

Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type Ib Associated with Novel Duplications in the GNAS Locus

Context: Pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1b (PHP-Ib) is characterized by renal resistance to PTH (and, sometimes, a mild resistance to TSH) and absence of any features of Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy. Patients with PHP-Ib suffer of defects in the methylation pattern of the complex GNAS locus. PHP-Ib can be either sporadic or inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Whereas familial PHP-Ib is well characterized at the molecular level, the genetic cause of sporadic PHP-Ib cases remains elusive, although some molecular mechanisms have been associated with this subtype.Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the molecular and imprinting defects in the GNAS locus in two unrelated patients with PHP-Ib.Design: We have analyzed the GNAS locus by direct sequencing, Methylation-Specific Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification, microsatellites, Quantitative Multiplex PCR of Short Fluorescent fragments and array-Comparative Genomic Hybridization studies in order to characterize two unrelated families with clinical features of PHP-Ib.Results: We identified two duplications in the GNAS region in two patients with PHP-Ib: one of them, comprising ~320 kb, occurred ‘de novo’ in the patient, whereas the other one, of ~179 kb in length, was inherited from the maternal allele. In both cases, no other known genetic cause was observed.Conclusion: In this article, we describe the to-our-knowledge biggest duplications reported so far in the GNAS region. Both are associated to PHP-Ib, one of them occurring ‘de novo’ and the other one being maternally inherited.This work was partially supported by Grants IT-795-13 and IT-472-07 from the Basque Department of Education (http://www.hezkuntza.ejgv.euskadi.net/r4​3-2591/es). TV is supported by the FPI Program of the University of Basque Country (UPV-EHU, http://www.ehu.es/p200-home/es)

Rarity of monodominance in hyperdiverse Amazonian forests.

Tropical forests are known for their high diversity. Yet, forest patches do occur in the tropics where a single tree species is dominant. Such "monodominant" forests are known from all of the main tropical regions. For Amazonia, we sampled the occurrence of monodominance in a massive, basin-wide database of forest-inventory plots from the Amazon Tree Diversity Network (ATDN). Utilizing a simple defining metric of at least half of the trees ≥ 10 cm diameter belonging to one species, we found only a few occurrences of monodominance in Amazonia, and the phenomenon was not significantly linked to previously hypothesized life history traits such wood density, seed mass, ectomycorrhizal associations, or Rhizobium nodulation. In our analysis, coppicing (the formation of sprouts at the base of the tree or on roots) was the only trait significantly linked to monodominance. While at specific locales coppicing or ectomycorrhizal associations may confer a considerable advantage to a tree species and lead to its monodominance, very few species have these traits. Mining of the ATDN dataset suggests that monodominance is quite rare in Amazonia, and may be linked primarily to edaphic factors

Restos de caballos fósiles cuaternarios en la depresión Prados-Guatén (Pantoja de la Sagra, Toledo)

Durante la primera reunión de campo del Grupo Madrileño de Cuaternario (GQM-AEQUA) se localizaron restos fragmentarios de dentición de caballos fósiles en los antiguos areneros de Pantoja de La Sagra (Toledo), actualmente en proceso de desmantelamiento y relleno. Ante la posibilidad de deterioro y pérdida los restos fueron recolectados y trasladados al Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC, Madrid) donde se ha procedido a su análisis. Las piezas fósiles analizadas responden a un maxilar izquierdo con tres piezas dentales in situ (molares y premolares), y otras siete más aisladas. Todos los dientes aislados, junto con el fragmento de maxilar existente, corresponden a un adulto joven. Los restos fósiles se encontraban asociados a un nivel de arenas fluviales situado unos cuatro metros por debajo de la superficie de la Terraza de +15 m de la Depresión Prados-Guatén definida como un nivel perteneciente al tránsito Pleistoceno inferior-medio, del antiguo Sistema fluvial Manzanares-Guatén por Silva (1988). En concreto los niveles superiores de esta terraza han sido interpretados como resultado de la superposición de los últimos depósitos del antiguo sistema fluvial y los primeros asociados al relleno de la Depresión por tributarios de área fuente más local tras su abandono como consecuencia del proceso de captura del valle inferior del Manzanares por parte del Río Jarama al SW de la Ciudad de Madrid (Silva et al., 1988). Los caracteres morfológicos y morfométricos de las piezas dentarias permiten identificarlos como Equus ferus cf. mosbachensis cuya distribución bioestratigráfica abarca la parte final del Pleistoceno Medio (c.a. 500-200 ka B.P.). Junto a los restos fósiles aparecieron también escasos fragmentos líticos correspondientes a productos de lascado en sílex de difícil atribución tecnológica. Los restos fósiles analizados, indican que el depósito extensivo de arenas fluviales en el eje de la Depresión, culminó durante el final del Pleistoceno medio, y que la dinámica fluvial de la Depresión tras su proceso de abandono fue de hecho más activa de lo que se pensaba con la instalación de sistemas de arroyos relevantes alimentados por cabeceras locales antes del encajamiento definitivo actual de los arroyos Prados y Guatén.Peer reviewe

Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in Corrected Valvular Heart Disease: Hemodynamic Insights and Long-Term Survival.

Background The determinants and consequences of pulmonary hypertension after successfully corrected valvular heart disease remain poorly understood. We aim to clarify the hemodynamic bases and risk factors for mortality in patients with this condition. Methods and Results We analyzed long-term follow-up data of 222 patients with pulmonary hypertension and valvular heart disease successfully corrected at least 1 year before enrollment who had undergone comprehensive hemodynamic and imaging characterization as per the SIOVAC (Sildenafil for Improving Outcomes After Valvular Correction) clinical trial. Median (interquartile range) mean pulmonary pressure was 37 mm Hg (32-44 mm Hg) and pulmonary artery wedge pressure was 23 mm Hg (18-26 mm Hg). Most patients were classified either as having combined precapillary and postcapillary or isolated postcapillary pulmonary hypertension. After a median follow-up of 4.5 years, 91 deaths accounted for 4.21 higher-than-expected mortality in the age-matched population. Risk factors for mortality were male sex, older age, diabetes mellitus, World Health Organization functional class III and higher pulmonary vascular resistance-either measured by catheterization or approximated from ultrasound data. Higher pulmonary vascular resistance was related to diabetes mellitus and smaller residual aortic and mitral valve areas. In turn, the latter correlated with prosthetic nominal size. Six-month changes in the composite clinical score and in the 6-minute walk test distance were related to survival. Conclusions Persistent valvular heart disease-pulmonary hypertension is an ominous disease that is almost universally associated with elevated pulmonary artery wedge pressure. Pulmonary vascular resistance is a major determinant of mortality in this condition and is related to diabetes mellitus and the residual effective area of the corrected valve. These findings have important implications for individualizing valve correction procedures. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT00862043.This study was funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain, the European Union–European Regional Development Fund (EC07/90772 and PI19/00649), and the Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV).S