Aprendizaje mezclado (B-Learning) Modalidad de formación de profesionales

El trabajo presenta los fundamentos del aprendizaje mezclado y algunas experiencias de un curso auspiciado conjuntamente por la Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela (UBV) y la Universidad de La Habana (UH). El curso de postgrado tuvo por objetivo la formación de nuevos docentes de la UBV en la temática de la Educación Virtual y el Aprendizaje con Tecnologías. Como apoyo del curso se empleó la plataforma Moodle con el fi n de propiciar la interacción entre los participantes. Se introdujo el estudio del valor y el papel de la Educación Virtual y las TIC en los procesos de desarrollo humano, para que se comprenda la incidencia de la brecha digital en los procesos del desarrollo y las causas de la misma entre los países del Tercer Mundo y los países desarrollados. Se publicó un libro sobre Educación Virtual, a manera de guía para el curso con la modalidad de aprendizaje mezclado, el cual resultó de inestimable valor por la ayuda que brindó a los participantes en su autoaprendizaje

Aprendizaje mezclado (B-Learning) Modalidad de formación de profesionales

This paper shows both, the fundamentals of the blended learning and some experiences of a course jointly sponsored by the Bolivarian University of Venezuela (UBV, Spanish abbreviation) and the University of La Havana (UH). The main objective of the postgraduate course was the training of new UBV teachers in the areas of Virtual Education and Learning with Technologies. The Moodle platform was employed in order to facilitate the participant’s interaction. The study of value and the role of ICT and Virtual Education were introduced in the human development processes, so that the incidence of the digital breach in the development processes and its causes among developed countries and The Third World countries were understood. A book on Virtual Education was published as a blended-learning mode student’s book which turned to be of inestimable value because of the help provided to participants in their self-learning process.El trabajo presenta los fundamentos del aprendizaje mezclado y algunas experiencias de un curso auspiciado conjuntamente por la Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela (UBV) y la Universidad de La Habana (UH). El curso de postgrado tuvo por objetivo la formación de nuevos docentes de la UBV en la temática de la Educación Virtual y el Aprendizaje con Tecnologías. Como apoyo del curso se empleó la plataforma Moodle con el fi n de propiciar la interacción entre los participantes. Se introdujo el estudio del valor y el papel de la Educación Virtual y las TIC en los procesos de desarrollo humano, para que se comprenda la incidencia de la brecha digital en los procesos del desarrollo y las causas de la misma entre los países del Tercer Mundo y los países desarrollados. Se publicó un libro sobre Educación Virtual, a manera de guía para el curso con la modalidad de aprendizaje mezclado, el cual resultó de inestimable valor por la ayuda que brindó a los participantes en su autoaprendizaje

Emotional intelligence as a predictor of prosocial behaviors in spanish and colombian older adults based on path models

Emotional intelligence (EI), empathy, and prosocial behavior (PB) are widely studied in the early stages of life, up to adolescence. However, there have been few studies in older adults. Using a multivariate methodology, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were applied with structural equation models (SEM) in 271 older adults in Colombia, along with a Spanish sample made up of 139 adults over 60 years of age, for a total sample of 411 older adults. The results confirmed that EI, as measured with the WLEIS, scale is the best predictor of PB, with excellent adjustment criteria (GFI = 0.99; CFI = 0.98; RMSEA = 0.064; PCLOSE = 0.28; SRMR = 0.023; AIC = 57.30). It is concluded that the path model yielded a reliable predictive explanation of PB, including EI as a key variable that explains prosocial tendencies

Evaluation of Sentinel-1, SMAP and SMOS surface soil moisture products for distributed eco-hydrological modelling in Mediterranean forest basins

[EN] Reliable distributed hydrological modeling, especially in semi-arid areas, must consider the inclusion of surface soil moisture (SSM) spatial information during the calibration process. This variable plays a key role in the evapotranspiration processes that determine the hydrological cycle. The coarse resolution of the SSM estimates by satellite remote sensing has restricted the application of this approach to only large basins, focusing most of the studies in the consideration of simply the temporal dynamics of this variable. The growing efforts in providing higher spatial resolution through disaggregating methodologies or new sensor estimates facilitates the application of this spatial approach to small basins. This paper explores the applicability of the currently available satellite surface soil moisture estimates for distributed eco-hydrological modelling in Mediterranean forest basins. On one hand, this study contributes to fill the existing research gap on the use of remote sensing SSM spatial patterns within the distributed hydrological modelling framework in small basins. On the other hand, it serves as an indirect validation method for the spatial performance of satellite SSM products. To achieve this goal, we implemented the eco-hydrological model TETIS in three case studies named: Hozgarganta (southern Spain), Ceira (western Portugal) and Carraixet (eastern Spain). The SSM estimates selected for comparison were Sentinel-1 SSM provided by the Copernicus Global Land Services (CGLS), SMAP SSM disaggregated using Sentinel-1 (SPL2SMAP_S) provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), SMOS SSM provided by the Barcelona Expert Center (BEC), and SMOS and SMAP SSM disaggregated using the DISPATCH algorithm provided by Lobelia Earth. The methodology employed involved a multi-objective and multi-variable calibration in terms of remote sensing SSM spatial patterns and in-situ streamflow, using the Spatial Efficiency Metric (SPAEF) and the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency index (NSE) respectively. Before model calibration a sensitivity analysis of the most influent variables was performed. The temporal and spatial comparison of the reference SSM products revealed inconsistencies amongst products. The disaggregating methodology determined the spatial agreement to a greater degree than the sensor itself (i.e. SMAP, SMOS). In spite of the differences amongst products, the multi-objective calibration approach proposed increased the robustness of the hydrological modelling.This study was founded by the Spanish AEI within the program WaterJPI through the project iAqueduct (PCI2019-103729) , by the EC Life project ResilientForests (LIFE17 CCA/ES/000063) , and by the project Water4Cast funded by Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2021/074) . We also acknowledge the following hydrometeorological data providers institutions: SiAR, SAIH-HIDROSUR, SAIH Jucar and SNIRH.Gomis-Cebolla, J.; Garcia-Arias, A.; Perpinyà-Vallès, M.; Francés, F. (2022). Evaluation of Sentinel-1, SMAP and SMOS surface soil moisture products for distributed eco-hydrological modelling in Mediterranean forest basins. Journal of Hydrology. 608:1-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.12756911960

Entre l'excepcionalitat i la informalitat: apunts per a un urbanisme postbombolla

Segons els autors l’esclat de la bombolla immobiliària ha tallat en sec la lògica de la plusvàlua que ha governat l’urbanisme fins ara. Aquest fet ha produït dos tipus de respostes que no solucionen pas els problemes derivats de la crisi: la resposta institucional basada en la promoció de megaprojectes (Eurovegas, BCNWorld, etc.), i l’urbanisme autogestionat (pràctiques urbanístiques de microtransformacions, de recuperació temporal d’espais, etc.). Les solucions que plantegen els autors passen per considerar l’urbanisme com a instrument polític, com a eina per al canvi social. Un urbanisme que ha de ser multidisciplinar i col·laboratiu i que gestioni (indivisiblement) tant l’urbanització i l’edificació del sòl, com els canvis del seu valor que la planificació genera.Según los autores del estallido de la burbuja inmobiliaria ha cortado en seco la lógica de la plusvalía que ha gobernado el urbanismo hasta ahora. Este hecho ha producido dos tipos de respuestas que no solucionan los problemas derivados de la crisis: la respuesta institucional basada en la promoción de megaproyectos (Eurovegas, BCNWorld, etc.), Y el urbanismo autogestionado (prácticas urbanísticas de microtransformaciones, de recuperación temporal de espacios, etc.). Las soluciones que plantean los autores pasan por considerar el urbanismo como instrumento político, como herramienta para el cambio social. Un urbanismo que debe ser multidisciplinar y colaborativo y que gestione (indivisiblemente) tanto la urbanización y la edificación del suelo, como los cambios de su valor que la planificación genera

First-Episode Psychotic Patients Showed Longitudinal Brain Changes Using fMRI With an Emotional Auditory Paradigm

Most previous longitudinal studies of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in first-episode psychosis (FEP) using cognitive paradigm task found an increased activation after antipsychotic medications. We designed an emotional auditory paradigm to explore brain activation during emotional and nonemotional word processing. This study aimed to analyze if longitudinal changes in brain fMRI BOLD activation is present in patients vs. healthy controls. A group of FEP patients (n = 34) received clinical assessment and had a fMRI scan at baseline and follow-up (average, 25-month interval). During the fMRI scan, both emotional and nonemotional words were presented as a block design. Results were compared with a pair of healthy control group (n = 13). Patients showed a decreased activation at follow-up fMRI in amygdala (F = 4.69; p = 0.04) and hippocampus (F = 5.03; p = 0.03) compared with controls. Middle frontal gyrus was the only area that showed a substantial increased activation in patients (F = 4.53; p = 0.04). A great heterogeneity in individual activation patterns was also found. These results support the relevance of the type of paradigm in neuroimaging for psychosis. This is, as far as we know, the first longitudinal study with an emotional auditory paradigm in FEP. Our results suggested that the amygdala and hippocampus play a key role in psychotic disease. More studies are needed to understand the heterogeneity of response at individual level

Impact of COVID-19 on Educational Sustainability. Initial Perceptions of the University Community of the University of Cadiz

This research analyses the impact of COVID-19 on the Spanish university system during the period of home lockdown put in place by the government of Spain between 15 March and 21 June 2020. This period did not involve a change to online teaching. Instead, it involved emergency remote teaching, wherein the content of face-to-face teaching was taught through non-classroom training using media, devices and tools available at that time. The main objective of the paper is related to the perceptions of students and teachers on emergency remote teaching regarding the face-to-face model. We applied statistical techniques of descriptive and inferential analysis over a sample of 2778 students and 221 teaching staff from the University of Cadiz. We also analysed the methodologies used, as well as the acquisition of skills, competencies and knowledge by the students in this situation, in order to detect whether this type of action can achieve sustainable education. This term refers to education that is capable of maintaining the continuous quality of the training of each student, who should acquire the required knowledge and competences regardless of unforeseen events. However, according to the results of this research, the sudden transition to e-learning, based on available technological and computer-based methods, did not guarantee sustainable education or its quality. This study establishes different possibilities for improving non-face-to-face teaching in this kind of situation. The results show greatly concerning levels of training and evaluation, as well as worse acquisition of skills. Both teachers and students declared a preference for face-to-face teaching. This perception should prompt the educational authorities to solve the existing problems in e-learning education, improving the transition and guaranteeing the sustainability of non-face-to-face education. This research highlights the areas for improvement in e-learning education in the ongoing situation, the general uncertainty in the transition, the lack of communication and the completion of a fair evaluation system. The results show that the methods used in this period must be improved to achieve sustainable teaching and learning during a pandemic. The results also emphasize the uncertainty in the educational community about the entire process. This study will help the educational authorities to improve the change of paradigm in higher education in the future

What do biomarkers add: Mapping quantitative imaging biomarkers research

[EN] Purpose: To understand the contribution of the concept of "biomarker" to quantitative imaging research. Method: The study consists of a bibliometric and a network analysis of quantitative imaging biomarkers research based on publication data retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) for the period 1976-2017. Co-authorship is used as a proxy for scientific collaboration among research groups. Research groups are disambiguated and assigned to an institutional sector and to a medical specialty or academic discipline. Co-occurrence maps of specialties are built to delineate the collaborative network structure of this emerging field. Results: Two very distinct growth patterns emerged from the 5432 publications retrieved from WoS. Scientific production on 'quantitative imaging biomarkers >> (QIB) began 20 years after the first publications on 'quantitative imaging >> (QI). The field of QIB has exhibited rapid growth becoming the most used term since 2011. Among the 12,882 institutions identified, 56% include the term QIB and 44% include the term QI; among the 14,734 different research groups identified, 60% include the term QIB and 40% the term QI. QIB is characterized by a well-established community of researchers whose largest contributors are in medical specialties (radiology 17%, neurology 16%, mental 10%, oncology 10%), while QI shows a more fragmented and diverse community (radiology 13%, engineering 13%, physics 10%, oncology 9%, neurology 6%, biology 4%, nuclear 3%, computing 3%). This suggests a qualitative difference between QIB and QI networks. Conclusions: Adding biomarkers to quantitative imaging suggests that medical imaging is rapidly evolving, driven by the efforts to translate quantitative imaging research into clinical practice.This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Adrian A. Díaz-Faes has received support from a Juan de la Cierva Incorporacion postdoctoral grant from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (IJCI-2017-31454).Meseguer-Castillo, E.; Barberá Tomás, JD.; Benito Amat, C.; Arias-Diaz-Faes, A.; Martí-Bonmatí, L. (2022). What do biomarkers add: Mapping quantitative imaging biomarkers research. European Journal of Radiology. 146:1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrad.2021.1100521814