Prediction of university students’ academic achievement by linear and logistic models

University students’ academic achievement measured by means of academic progress is modeled through linear and logistic regression, employing prior achievement and demographic factors as predictors. The main aim of the present paper is to compare results yielded by both statistical procedures, in order to identify the most suitable approach in terms of goodness of fit and predictive power. Grades awarded in basic scientific courses and demographic variables were entered into the models at the first step. Two hypotheses are proposed: (a) Grades in basic courses as well as demographic factors are directly related to academic progress, and (b) Logistic regression is more appropriate than linear regression due to its higher predictive power. Results partially confirm the first prediction, as grades are positively related to progress. However, not all demographic factors considered proved to be good predictors. With regard to the second hypothesis, logistic regression was shown to be a better approach than linear regression, yielding more stable estimates with regard to the presence of ill-fitting patterns.Se estudia el efecto de dos tipos de factores sobre el rendimiento de estudiantes universitarios: variables académicas de rendimiento previo y variables demográficas, mediante modelos lineales y logísticos. El principal objetivo del trabajo es comparar los resultados obtenidos con ambas técnicas estadísticas, para determinar cuál de ellos es más adecuado en términos de ajuste y capacidad predictiva cuando se pretende explicar y predecir el rendimiento académico, en función de variables de rendimiento previo y factores sociodemográficos. Como medida del rendimiento a predecir se empleó el avance en la carrera. Las hipótesis planteadas son: 1) El avance está directamente relacionado con las calificaciones en materias básicas de primer año y con variables demográficas y 2) Los modelos logísticos son más adecuados que los modelos lineales, ya que presentan mayor capacidad predictiva. Los resultados permiten confirmar la primera hipótesis en su primera parte, ya que el rendimiento previo está directa y significativamente asociado al avance en la carrera. Pero se cumple de forma parcial por lo que se refiere al efecto factores demográficos. Con respecto a la segunda hipótesis, la regresión logística mostró ser más adecuada que la lineal, pues arroja estimaciones más estables en relación con la presencia de patrones de mal ajuste

Synthesis and characterization of a new nanosorbent based on functionalized magnetic nanoparticles and its use in the determination of mercury by FI-CV-ETAAS

In this work, a new chelating sorbent which employs 1,5-bis(di-2-pyridil)methylene thiocarbohydrazide as the functional group and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as its support (DPTH-MNP) was synthetized and characterized. The MNPs were prepared by coprecipitation of Fe+2 and Fe+3 with NH3 and then coated with silica in order to easily bind the support and the functionalizing molecule. The aim of the synthesis of this material is applying it as a solid-phase extracting agent and evaluating its potential for the extraction and pre-concentration of trace amounts of analytes present in biological and environmental samples with on-line methods. The MNPs’ magnetic core would allow overcoming the usual backpressure problems that happen in solid-phase extraction methods thanks to the possibility of immobilizing the MNPs by applying an external magnetic field. From the study of its adsorption capacity toward metal ions, mercury and antimony were the most retained. Thus, a flow injection solid phase extraction and cold vapor generation method for mercury determination based on the use of this new chelating nanosorbent was optimized. The greatest efforts were put into the reactor design to minimize compaction and loss of nanosorbent. The knotted reactor shown in Figure 1 was chosen as the best. Then, chemical and flow variables were optimized by Central composite designs (CCDs). The method developed has showed to be useful for the automatic pre-concentration and determination of mercury in environmental and biological samples. The determination was performed using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). Under the optimum conditions, pH 5 and 120 s preconcentration time, the enrichment factor was 5.33; the detection limit (3σ) was 7.8 ng L-1; the determination limit (10σ) was 99 ng L-1; and the precisions (calculated for 10 replicate determinations at a 1 and 5 µg L-1 standards) were 1.7 and 1.9 % (RSD), respectively. Two linear calibration graphs were obtained, from the determination limits to 10 µg L-1 and from 10 to at least 50 µg L-1. From the comparison with other similar methods found in the bibliography, the detection limit and precisions calculated with our method were better. In order to evaluate the accurate and applicability of the method, the analysis of five certified samples LGC 6016 estuarine water, TMDA 54.4 fortified lake water, SRM 2976 mussel tissue, TORT-1 lobster hepatopancreas and DOLT-1 dogfish liver by standard addition and external calibration, were addressed. The results showed good agreement between the certified values, or added amounts of mercury, and the found concentrations. The method was successfully applied to the determination of mercury in sea-water samples collected in the Málaga Bay.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

O mapalé de sonia osorio. todos somos um, felizes e copulando

From the anthropology of the dancing perspective, considering human body, gender, and other studies, this article is intended to inquire into Sonia Osorio’s legacy, (1928-2011), director of Ballet of Colombia until her death, who internationally represented Colombia as a sexy, diverse and unified country for around sixty years. Mapale choreography, the emblematic dancing at Ballet of Colombia, is analyzed. Moreover, Osorios’ long-term hegemonic legacy and conflicts between other dancing icons at that time are contrasted in an investigation, which the author has called: “The itinerary of woman body formation as a spectacle of the nation”.El artículo busca indagar desde perspectivas de la antropología de la danza, estudios de cuerpo, género y otras, el legado de la maestra Sonia Osorio (1928-2011), quien durante más de 60 años logró representar a Colombia nacional e internacionalmente como un país sexy, diverso y unificado. Se demuestra el análisis de la coreografía del Mapalé, que fue emblemática del Ballet de Colombia, el cual dirigió hasta su muerte. Su legado hegemónico por largos años y en conflicto con otras figuras de la danza en Colombia, cuya investigación vengo adelantando, hace parte de lo que he llamado “los itinerarios de formación del cuerpo de la mujer como espectáculo de la nación”.O artigo busca indagar desde perspectivas da antropologia da dança, estudos do corpo, gênero e outras, o legado da mestra Sonia Osorio (1928-2011), quem durante mais de 60 anos conseguiu representar a Colômbia nacional e internacionalmente como um país sexy, diverso e unificado. Demonstra-se a análise da coreografia do Mapalé, que foi emblemática do Ballet de Colombia, o qual dirigiu até a morte. Seu legado hegemônico por longos anos e em conflito com outras figuras da dança na Colômbia, cuja investigação vem adiantando, faz parte do que tem llamado “los itinerarios de formación del cuerpo de la mujer como espectáculo de la nación”

Measures of attention to diversity: legislative framework, characteristics, analysis and evaluation

This article provides a panorama of the measures of attention to diversity covered in the Autonomous Community of Murcia for students of ESO, specifically focusing on the legislative framework from which schools have to organize and carry out care students with learning problems and difficulties at the secondary level.The legislative analysis has allowed us to extract a set of conclusions about the defining characteristics of such measures, and students for whom they are intended, and on issues of organizational nature, concerning the groups of students and the coordination required for deployment in places which it considers relevant for the educational community interest

“Zombie attack” a new way to teach Chemistry

The Higher Education requires new models which allow training people able to adapt and survive in changing environments. It is based on the use of technologies and the adaptation of knowledge to people. It is about an education according to circumstances, which is adapted to context and virtual behaviour of people. One of the main difficulties that lecturers find in the classroom is how to maintain students' attention and interest in their subject, especially when students also think that the subject is not important for their training. In order to motivate these students, innovation in educational techniques and methodologies, such as experiential learning, are progressively being imposed to and/or coordinated with the traditional ones. Escape Room is a very modern concept in education, based on the development of mental skills for the solution of enigmas and problems. It is a tool to develop the cooperative, cognitive, deductive and logical reasoning skills of the students. In this work, an educational gamification experience based on the escape room concept is presented. The students have 1 hour and 30 minutes to carry out this activity. They will have to solve four puzzles and enigmas that will give them the key to open a treasure chest and finally let them escape from the classroom. Logic, ingenuity and teamwork will allow participants to develop not only chemical competence, but also other basic skills. The story that is told throughout the escape room is a zombie attack: the city has been infected (with a virus) and only the occupants of the room where the activity takes place have not been infected. In addition, they can all protect themselves if they are able to open the chest where the antidote is located. The aim of this activity is to enhance the knowledge acquired throughout the semester as well as the development of skills.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

The Flipper classroom as an alternative methodology for mathematics education in university teaching

Este trabajo de investigación se ha realizado con los objetivos de conocer los resultados obtenidos tras haber implementado propuestas didácticas basadas en la metodología de Clase Invertida (Flipped Classroom) en distintas asignaturas de matemáticas en diferentes cursos y titulaciones de la Universidad de Málaga; analizar la viabilidad didáctica de esta innovación; y su continuidad. Todo ello orientado a buscar nuevos modelos educativos que fomenten el trabajo colaborativo, la adaptación a distintos ritmos de aprendizaje, clases más prácticas y experimentales, que impulse el trabajo autónomo, y la autorregulación en el aprendizaje. Los resultados obtenidos, una vez realizado el estudio del grado de satisfacción del alumnado universitario con la metodología flipped classroom, concluyen que existe una amplia satisfacción con la introducción de una metodología que le proporciona mayor participación en el aula, que le facilita el acceso a contenidos didácticos en un formato más cercano (que puede consultar cuándo y cómo quiera), y que se adapta a sus necesidades y ritmos de aprendizaje. Consideran que el tiempo en el aula es más eficaz, estiman que realizan un mejor aprovechamiento del tiempo y que además mejora su aprendizaje y la comprensión de contenidos. Estas conclusiones se han podido contrastar en los distintos grupos y en diferentes etapas en las que se ha llevado a cabo la experiencia.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

An insight into the solid-state miscibility of triacylglycerol crystals

The crystallization properties of triacylglycerols (TAGs) strongly determine the functional properties of natural lipids. The polymorphic and mixing phase behavior of TAG molecules have long been, and still are, a hot topic of research with special relevance for the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industry. To avoid the difficulties arising from the study of whole real fats, studies at the molecular level on mixtures of a limited number of TAGs has become an indispensable tool to identify the underlying causes of the physical properties in lipid systems. In particular, phase diagrams of binary mixtures of TAGs exhibiting a different degree of heterogeneity (monoacid or mixed fatty acids; molecular symmetry; the presence of cis or trans double bonds) have resulted in a significant breakthrough in our knowledge about structure-interaction-function relationships. The present work aims to provide an overview of the main reports regarding binary and ternary TAG systems, from the early studies to the most recent developments

Mixing phase behavior of trilaurin and monounsaturated triacylglycerols based on palmitic and oleic fatty acids

Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction were used to examine the mixing phase behavior of LLL (trilaurinor 1,2,3-trilauroyl-glycerol) and POP (1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycerol), PPO (1,2-dipalmitoyl-3-oleoyl-rac-glycerol), orthe 50POP/50PPO blend able to form a molecular compound. This research aims to provide an insight into the molecularinteractions ruling the physical behavior of fat blends of lauric (i.e., coconut oil) and non-lauric lipids (cocoa butter, palmoil, etc.). The results showed eutectic behavior and no mutual solubility of triacylglycerols in stable LLL/POP and LLL/PPO mixtures. Applying high-rate cooling treatments had a positive effect on miscibility, but the high incompatibility ofthe components due to differences in length and degree of unsaturation of fatty acids was still evident in metastable polymorphs.In ternary LLL/(50POP/50PPO) mixtures, on the other hand, molecular compound β-2L crystals formed by POPand PPO showed to favor the solubility of LLL as compared to the binary systems. Accordingly, promoting the presence oftriacylglycerols forming molecular compound in specific fat blends may help reducing eutectic or incompatible interactionsamong triacylglycerol molecules in the solid state. These lead to phase separation and are a major cause of the restrictedapplicability of lauric oils in the confectionery and chocolate industries