Tablet-based praxis developed for children in primary education studying natural sciences and mathematics

Information and Communication Technologies are now a common feature in classroom activities. The aim of this study was to present praxis developed for the tablet for use by primary education students (aged 6–12) studying the natural sciences and mathematics. This research is qualitative and follows the narrative-ethnographic approach. The study sample consisted of 120 primary education students and 52 educational blogs. The results and conclusions reveal praxis that is rarely innovative or ludic. The bulk of tablet-based activities were for natural sciences classes rather than mathematics, and the most common practice with the tablet in the natural sciences was information searching and content exploration. The most widely used apps were the Google search engine, YouTube and the tablet’s default apps (camera, image and video editor). Course content in the natural sciences focused on living beings and states of matter, and the activities developed for children to do on the tablet aimed to foster learning through discovery, exploration and enquiry. In mathematics, a traditional methodological approach was apparent in children’s use of the tablet for typical activities related to units of measurement.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades | Ref. FPU15/00091Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades | Ref. RTI2018-099764-B-10

Mutual Interactions between Aquaporins and Membrane Components

During the last years, a number of studies have been focused on the structural evaluation of protein complexes in order to get mechanistic insights into how proteins communicate at the molecular level within the cell. Specific sites of protein-aquaporin interaction have been evaluated and new regulations of aquaporins described based on these associations. Aquaporin isoforms heterotetramerizations are considered as novel regulatory mechanisms for plasma membrane (PIPs) and tonoplast (TIPs) proteins, influencing their intrinsic permeability and trafficking dynamics in the adaptive response to changing environmental conditions. However, protein-protein interaction is an extensive theme that is difficult to tackle and new methodologies of physical interactions are being used in approaches to its study. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) and the identification of cross-linked peptides based on tandem mass spectra, which resulted complementary to other methodologies such as heterologous expression, co-precipitation assays or confocal fluorescence microscopy, have been discussed in this review. The chemical composition or physical characteristics of the lipid bilayer also influences many aspects of membrane aquaporins, including their functionality. The molecular driving forces stabilizing the observed lipid positions around aquaporins could define their activity, which could alter the conformational properties. Therefore, an integrative approach to the relevance of the membrane-aquaporin interaction to different processes related to plant cell physiology is shown. Finally, the interactions between aquaporins and copolymer matrixes or biological compounds offer an opportunity for the functional incorporation of aquaporins into new biotechnological advances

Social overview of smartphone use by teenagers

Information and Communication Technologies have led to a new way of life and, in particular, of socialization. The objective of this study is to analyse the image social media disseminate of news taken from digital newspapers, based on the opportunities and drawbacks attributed to smartphone use by teenagers. An essentially qualitative methodology was used, on a sample of 1704 news items published in digital newspapers. The results and conclusions show that smartphone use by teenagers improves development of their digital competence, presents new academic opportunities (through gamification or mobile learning) and provides them with digital tools for school and leisure. The widespread drawbacks reflect the effects of the device on the deterioration of health (dependence, stress, psychosocial problems) and emotions, thereby succinctly affecting academic performance. A noticeable increase of positive news about smartphones was published in the major newspapers in December, while that on its negative effects, in September.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades | Ref. FPU16/0085

Lactate Oxidation in Endothelial Cells: A Feature of All Endothelial Cells?

Resumen de la comunicaciónMetabolism of endothelial cells is a topic that has gained an increasing interest in the last years. This is due to their role in the angiogenic process, which is pathologically upregulated in several diseases, such as retinopathies, diabetes and cancer. Glycolysis, among other metabolic routes, has been found to be essential for triggering the angiogenic switch. Additionally, it has been seen that endothelial cells are able to take up lactate from the extracellular media, for example in the case of the tumor microenvironment, where cancer cells would have secreted high amounts of this metabolite. Endothelial cells would oxidize this lactate for obtaining energy, but lactate can also act as a signaling molecule for the angiogenic process. However, experiments to determine the molecular fate of lactate have been performed using only macrovascular endothelial cells. The aim of the present work is to prove whether microvascular endothelial cells are also able to take up and oxidize lactate. For this purpose, fluorimetry, isotopic labeling and Seahorse experiments were used to study the metabolism of a human microvascular endothelial cell line (HMEC). The expression levels of transcripts and proteins of different enzymes and transporters related to lactate metabolism were estimated by qPCR and Western blotting. The results obtained indicate that these cells rely on glycolysis for their metabolism, while the oxidation of glucose and glutamine seems to be considerably low. On the other hand, no lactate oxidation could be detected. We then checked the mRNA expression of the two isoenzymes of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the two main lactate transporters, MCT1 and MCT4, and found that levels of LDH-B and MCT1 were undetectable. We failed to measure any MCT1 mRNA or protein expression either in normoxia or hypoxia. Hence, we can conclude that at least this microvascular endothelial cell line cannot use extracellular lactate as a metabolic fuel.Our experimental work is supported by grants BIO2014-56092-R (MINECO and FEDER) and P12-CTS-1507 (Andalusian Government and FEDER) and funds from group BIO-267 (Andalusian Government). The "CIBER de Enfermedades Raras" is an initiative from the ISCIII (Spain). This communicaction has the support of a travel grant "Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech"

A comprehensive model of adjustment to pain in the co-occurrence of PTSD and chronic musculoskeletal pain: vulnerability and protective pathways

There are a significant comorbidity between PTSD and chronic pain. Thus, studies clarifying the vulnerability and protective variables and mechanisms associated with PTSD and chronic pain are needed. The aim of this study was to examine the association between trauma, resilience, PTSD symptoms, and the variables included in the fear-avoidance models (anxiety sensitivity, catastrophizing, fear-avoidance beliefs, fear of pain, pain hypervigilance) as well as pain acceptance and experiential avoidance in explaining adjustment to chronic pain (pain intensity, pain-related disability and emotional distress). Method: the sample consisted of 229 patients with chronic musculoskeletal back pain. Results: Structural Equation Modelling was used. Statistical tests indicated that the hypothesized model adequately fitted the data (RMSEA = .07; CFI = .99; NNFI = .98; TLI = .96). The χ2 test was significant (χ2 (8) = 19.25, χ2 /dl = 2.40, p = .014). The results provided support for the hypothesized model. All the standardized path coefficients were significant (p < .05). Conclusions: This study provides empirical support for the potential role of PTSD symptoms in fear-avoidance models of chronic pain, and may provide support for the diathesis-stress model of pain. It is the first comprehensive model of adjustment to pain to consider vulnerability and protective adaptation mechanisms in patients who have undergone a traumatic event. The study highlights the importance of a comprehensive framework of reference to understand the comorbidity of PTSD and chronic musculoskeletal pain, and the need to provide well-designed treatment programs for the simultaneous treatment of these conditions.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Physical frailty and gait speed in community elderly: a systematic review

Objective: To identify the outcomes of studies on gait speed and its use as a marker of physical frailty in community elderly. Method: Systematic review of the literature performed in the following databases: LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE/PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus and ProQuest. The studies were evaluated by STROBE statement, and the PRISMA recommendations were adopted. Results: There were 6,303 studies, and 49 of them met the inclusion criteria. Of the total number of studies, 91.8% described the way of measuring gait speed. Of these, 28.6% used the distance of 4.6 meters, and 34.7% adopted values below 20% as cutoff points for reduced gait speed, procedures in accordance with the frailty phenotype. Regarding the outcomes, in 30.6% of studies, there was an association between gait speed and variables of disability, frailty, sedentary lifestyle, falls, muscular weakness, diseases, body fat, cognitive impairment, mortality, stress, lower life satisfaction, lower quality of life, napping duration, and poor performance in quantitative parameters of gait in community elderly. Conclusion: The results reinforce the association between gait speed, physical frailty and health indicator variables in community elderly

Una crítica a las teorías clásicas del aprendizaje y a su expresión en el campo educativo

Neste trabalho, tem-se o intuito de buscar compreender modos de interpenetração da psicologia e da educação. A reflexão é tecida tomando-se as teorias da aprendizagem como o cenário de um ciclo de produção teórica da psicologia, buscando-se fios das meadas em modos concretos com que professores e estudantes afirmam suas práticas no campo da educação. Tendo como fundamento a perspectiva histórico-cultural da psicologia, é feito um exame crítico das teorias de aprendizagem mais conhecidas, procurando-se demonstrar seus pontos de convergência e seus limites para tratar da diversidade das formas de aprendizagem humanas, especialmente as que acontecem no âmbito da instituição escolar. _______________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTIn this paper, we aim at comprehending the ways in which psychology and education interpenetrate each other. The reflection is based on learning theories which serve as the scenario of a cycle of theoretical production in psychology, in search of the main line of thinking of concrete ways in which teachers and students carry out their practices in education. With psychology's historical-cultural perspective as a basis, a critical examination of the most known learning theories is made while trying to demonstrate their convergences and their limits in treating the diversity of human learning types, especially the ones that take place inside the school institution. _______________________________________________________________________________ RÉSUMÉDans ce travail, nous cherchons à comprendre les façons par lesquelles la psychologie et l'education s'interpenetrent l'une avec l'autre. La réflection est basée sur les théories d'apprentissage qui servent de cénario pour un cycle de production théorique en psychologie, tout en cherchant les fils conducteurs des manieres par lesquelles les maitres et les étudiants affirment leurs pratiques en éducation. Utilisant la perspective psychologique historique-culturelle comme fondement, un examen critique des théories d'apprentissage plus connues est fait tout en essayant de démontrer leurs convergences et leurs limites en traitant la diversité des formes d'apprentissage humain, spécialement celles qui prennent place au sein de Institution école. _______________________________________________________________________________ RESUMENEn este trabajo se intenta compreender algunas de las formas de interpenetración entre Psicologia y Educación. El escenario para la reflexión lo constituyen las teorías de aprendizaje como un ciclo de producción teórica de la Psicologia, siendo el hilo conductor la búsqueda de las formas concretas en que profesores y estudiantes afirman sus prácticas en el campo de la Educación. A partir de la Teoria histórico-cultural de la Psicología se hace un análisis crítico de las teorias de aprendizaje más conocidas, procurándose demostrar sus puntos de convergencia y también sus limites para explicar la diversidad de formas del aprendizaje humano, especialmente las que tienen lugar en la institución escolar

PathFinder: A Visualization eMathTeacher for Actively Learning Dijstra's algorithm

PathFinder is a new eMathTeacher for actively learning Dijkstra's algorithm. In Sanchez-Torrubia et al. (2007) the concept of eMathTeacher was defined and the minimum as well as some additional requirements were described. The tool presented here is an enhanced paradigm of this new concept on Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) resources: an application designed following the eMathTeacher philosophy for active eLearning. The highlighting new feature provided by this application is an animated algorithm visualization panel showing, on the code, the current step the student is executing and/or where there is a user's mistake within the algorithm running. PathFinder also includes another two interesting new features: an active framework area for the algorithm data and the capability of saving/retrieving the created graph

Evaluation of metabolism and biosignaling in the angiogenic microenvironment as potential targets for therapeutic intervention

The "re-discovery" of Warburg effect at the turn of the present millennium has been a key determinant of the current renewed interest on cancer metabolism. In fact, metabolic reprogramming has been identified as one of the hallmarks of cancer. However, cancers grow in tight contact with non-tumoral accompanying cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix, as underlined by the concept of tumor microenvironment. Endothelial cells are key components of this tumor microenvironment, since they are requested for angiogenesis, another hallmark of cancer. In this complex system, rewiring of metabolism and signaling pathway in cancer, endothelial and other accompanying cell emerges as new potential targets for therapeutic intervention. In this communication, we will present the drug discovery and characterization approach of our group and our more recent results in this field, including new modeling with an evolutionary and ecological point of view.[Our experimental work is supported by grants BIO2014-56092-R (MINECO and FEDER) and P12-CTS-1507 (Andalusian Government and FEDER) and funds from group BIO-267 (Andalusian Government). The "CIBER de Enfermedades Raras" is an initiative from the ISCIII (Spain)]. This communication has the support of a travel grant "Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech"