Matching students’ learning styles to reading activities: A case study to promote positive perceptions towards reading and improve the use of reading strategies

Abstract The concept of learning styles in educational settings is widely spread among the scholar community; there is a significant amount of research studies that deal with this issue. However, few of them focus on the implementation of this theory to improve English language reading skills in high school levels in Colombia. This study attempts to resolve this concern through a case study with a group of 37 students and 1 teacher from a public school in 11th grade. It is explored the changes on students’ reading strategies and their perceptions towards reading, when their learning styles are matched to the reading activities in the English class. For conducting this work, a qualitative research was used. Data was collected using the following instruments and techniques: (a) The Perceptual Learning Style Preferences Questionnaire, (b) Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies, (c) Students’ Reading Perception Questionnaire, (d) Teacher’s Reflective Logs, and (e) Class Audio Recording. Results showed that the kinesthetic learning style was the preferred by the majority of participants. In the same way, the auditory modality has the highest score as the minor learning style. Finally, the less preferred learning style among the group is the individual modality. It was also found out that when students’ learning styles are matched to the reading activities, there is the existence of some changes in the strategies they used when performing reading tasks and in their perceptions towards reading

Daily cigarette smoking among colombian high school students: gender related psychosocial factors

O objetivo foi estabelecer a prevalência e os fatores associados ao consumo diário de cigarro (CDC) em adolescentes estudantes de Bucaramanga, Colômbia. Uma amostra aleatória por conglomerados foi investigada (n= 2.291). A prevalência de CDC durante o último mês foi 11,6% (IC 95% 9,7-13,5) em varões e 4.4% (IC 95% 3,3-5,5) em mulheres. Em mulheres, o CDC associou-se ao consumo de alguma substância ilegal (OR 8,13; IC 95% 3,52-18,87), consumo abusivo de álcool (OR 5,88, IC 95%2,54-13,7), melhor amigo fumador (OR 3,25, IC 95% 1,38-7,63) e pobre o regular rendimento acadêmico (OR 2,46, IC 95% 1,25-4,85). Em varões, o CDC relacionou-se com o consumo de alguma substancia ilegal (OR 6,23, IC 95% 3,62-10,71), melhor amigo fumador (OR 5,87, IC 95% 2,93-11,76), pobre o regular rendimento acadêmico (OR 2,09, IC95% 1,34-3,24) e mais anos de idade (OR 1,48, IC 95% 1,21-1,81). O CDC apresenta similares fatores associados em mulheres e varões. Precisam-se de mais pesquisas.El objetivo fue establecer la prevalencia y los factores asociados a consumo diario de cigarrillo (CDC) en adolescentes estudiantes de Bucaramanga, Colombia. Una muestra aleatoria por conglomerado fue investigada (n = 2.291). La prevalencia de CDC durante el último mes fue 11,6% (IC 95% 9,7-13,5) en varones y 4,4% (IC 95% 3,3-5,5) en mujeres. En mujeres, el CDC se asoció a consumo de alguna sustancia ilegal (OR 8,13, IC95% 3,52-18,87), consumo abusivo de alcohol (OR 5,88, IC 95% 2,54-13,70), mejor amigo fumador (OR 3,25, IC 95% 1,38-7,63) y pobre o regular rendimiento académico (OR 2,46, IC95% 1,25-4,85). En varones, el CDC se relacionó con consumo de alguna sustancia ilegal (OR 6,23, IC 95% 3,62-10,71), mejor amigo fumador (OR 5,87, IC 95% 2,93-11,76), pobre o regular rendimiento académico (OR 2,09, IC 95% 1,34-3,24) y más años de edad (OR 1,48, IC 95% 1,21-1,81). El CDC presenta muy similares factores asociados en mujeres y varones. Se necesitan más investigaciones.This study aimed to establish the prevalence of daily cigarette smoking (DCS) and its gender correlated factors in high-school attending adolescents from Bucaramanga, Colombia. A random cluster sample was surveyed (N = 2291). The previous month DCS prevalence was 11.6% (95% CI 9.7-13.5) in boys and 4.4% (95% CI 3.3-5.5) in girls. In girls, DCS was associated with previous month illegal substance use (OR 8.13, 95%CI 3.52-18.87), abusive alcohol consumption (OR 5.88, 95% CI 2.54-13.70), being the best friend of a smoker (OR 3.25, 95% CI 1.38-7.63), and poor or mediocre academic achievement (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.25-4.85). In boys, DCS was related to previous month substance use (OR 6.23, 95% CI 3.62-10.71), being the best friend of a smoker (OR 5.87, 95% CI 2.93-11.76), poor or mediocre academic achievement (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.34-3.24), and being older than non-smokers (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.21-1.81). DCS presents associated factors very similar for girls and boys. Thus, more research is needed

O modelo de Harvard: proposta de negociação entre a universidade pública e seus sindicatos.

Today, conflicts between unions and public universities are determined by factors such as the permeabilization of both entities, the influence of existing regulations, and other inherent aspects. This article presents an analysis of the conflicts between unions and public universities. It proposes a strategy for their solution through the Harvard negotiation model so that mediation transcends conciliation processes and both sides benefit. This model presents advantages, relevance, and potential for assertively dealing with conflicts between unions and public universities. Documentary research was carried out to propose this alternative since negotiation models are valuable tools but little explored in the context of Colombian public universities.Hoy los conflictos entre los sindicatos y las universidades públicas están marcados por factores como la permeabilización de ambos entes, la influencia de la normatividad existente y otros aspectos inherentes. Este artículo presenta un análisis acerca de los conflictos entre sindicatos y universidades públicas y propone una estrategia para su solución a partir del modelo de negociación de Harvard, de tal manera que la mediación trascienda a procesos de conciliación y ambas partes se vean beneficiadas. Este modelo es pertinente y tiene potencialidades para hacerle frente a los conflictos de forma asertiva entre los sindicatos y las universidades públicas. Se realizó una revisión documental para proponer esta alternativa, dado que los modelos de negociación son herramientas valiosas poco exploradas en el contexto de las universidades públicas colombianas.Hoje, os conflitos entre sindicatos e universidades públicas são determinados por fatores como a permeabilização de ambas as entidades, a influência das regulamentações existentes e outros aspectos inerentes. Este artigo apresenta uma análise dos conflitos entre sindicatos e universidades públicas e propõe uma estratégia para sua solução por meio do modelo de negociação de Harvard, para que a mediação transcenda os processos de conciliação e ambos os lados se beneficiem. Esse modelo apresenta vantagens, relevância e potencialidades para lidar de forma assertiva com os conflitos entre sindicatos e universidades públicas. A pesquisa documental foi realizada para propor esta alternativa, uma vez que os modelos de negociação são ferramentas valiosas, mas pouco exploradas no contexto das universidades públicas colombianas

Jobless and burnt out: digital inequality and online access to the labor market

This article examines how inequalities in digital skills shape the outcomes of online job‐seeking processes. Building on a representative survey of Spanish job seekers, we show that people with high digital skill levels have a greater probability of securing a job online, because of their ability to create a coherent profile and make their application visible. Additionally, it is less probable that they will experience burnout during this process than job seekers with low digital skill levels. Given the concentration of digital skills amongst people with high levels of material and digital resources, we conclude that the internet enforces existing material and health inequalities

Biomass combustion modeling using openFOAM: development of a simple computational model and study of the combustion performance of Lippia origanoides bagasse

Combustion is the most commonly used technology to produce energy from biomass; nevertheless, there are still thermal efficiency problems in current biomass combustion furnaces and a lack of knowledge about the properties of residual biomasses that could be used as fuels. Aiming to contribute to knowledge of the potential of residual biomass for energy generation, this work reports on the implementation of a 2D computational model to study the combustion performance of several solid biomass fuels, and its application in the analysis of Lippia origanoides bagasse combustion. The model uses an Eulerian–Lagrangian approach; in the continuous phase, governing equations are solved, and in the dispersed phase, particles are tracked and the mass, momentum, species and energy transfer between the phases are calculated. The model was validated against experimental data from a combustor fueled by three biomasses: wood pellets, olive stone and almond shell. The results show deviations of less than 13%, with few exceptions, which indicates a good degree of agreement with experimental measurements compared with those reported by other studies on the subject. Furthermore, it was found that the stems of Lippia origanoides bagasse show similar performance to that of other biomass used as solid fuel, while the leaves present lower performance.Minciencias, Ministerio de Educación Nacional, Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Turismo e ICETEX, Colombia | Ref. RC-FP44842-212-201

Hábitat del venado cola blanca, en la Sierra de Huautla, Morelos, México

The study was conducted in three certified units for environmental management (UMA), these were Ajuchitlan-Santiopa, El Limon de Cuauchichinola and Pitzotlan, Morelos, Mexico, it lasted from March to August, 2007, and consisted in the evaluation of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus mexicanus Gmelin, 1788) habitat. To define the habitat tree and shrub composition was determined by central point quadrants, measures were diameter of tree canopy, plant density in 100 m2, accessibility of potential plants that are ingested by deer, altitude, slope, species importance and botanical familiesand richness indexes (Margalef and Menhinick), equity (Shannon, Inverse Shannon, Evenness) and dominance indexes (Simpson, Inverse Simpson, Berger-Parker and Inverse Berger-Parker). A total of 72 species were found, 29 botanical families, tree and shrub dominances were 68 and 32% respectively. Euphorbia schlechtendalii, Lysiloma divaricata and Acacia cochliacantha species showed the highest values in importance, abundance and even in anthropogenic use. The botanical family Fabaceae was the most wide spread and with the highest importance value among botanical families. From statistical analysis mean basal wasn’t different between UMA’s and transects (p > 0.05) as well as plant densityin 100 m2 (x _ = 23.44), the accessibility with a mean value of 0.48 m which was highly accessible to deer, areal tree cover of 8.89 m2 and the altitude; the slopes was different between UMA’s and transects (p < 0.05). The white-tailed deer habitat of the Sierra de Huautla with the best attributes is the one that shows high richness, abundance and no dominance of plant species and high slopes on the field; focus mainly on food availability and coverage.El estudio se realizó en las UMA’s de Ajuchitlan-Santiopa, El Limón de Cuauchichinola y Pitzotlan, Morelos, México; de marzo a agosto de 2007, donde se evaluó el hábitat del venado cola blanca (Odocoileus virginianus mexicanus Gmelin, 1788). Para caracterizarlo se estimó el estrato arbóreo y arbustivo aplicando el método de puntos centrados en cuadrantes, del cual se estimó el diámetro de la copa, individuos vegetales en 100 m2, la accesibilidad de las plantas potencialmente consumidas por el venado, la altitud, la pendiente, valor de importancia de especies y familias vegetales e índices de riqueza (Margalef y Menhinick), equidad (Shannon y su inverso, Equidad o Uniformidad) y dominancia (Simpson y su inverso, Berger-Parker y su inverso). Se encontraron 72 especies vegetales, distribuidas en 29 familias, con dominancia de árboles de 68 y 32% de arbustos. Las especies Euphorbia schlechtendalii, Lysiloma divaricata y Acacia cochliacantha, sobresalieron por su valor de importancia de especies, abundancia e importancia antropogénica. La familia Fabaceae fue la más representativa por el valor de importancia de familias. El análisis estadístico reveló que el área basal promedio fue similarentre UMA’s y entre transectos (p > 0.05), así como la densidad de individuos vegetales en 100 m2 (x _ = 23.44), la accesibilidad, pero las especies vegetales fueron altamente accesibles para el venado(u = 0.48 m), la cobertura de la copa, con u = 8.89 m2 y la altitud; la pendiente fue diferente entre UMA’s y entre transectos (p < 0.05). El hábitat del venado cola blanca en la Sierra de Huautla con mejores atributos, es aquel que presenta alta diversidad, abundancia y sin dominancia de especies vegetales y con mayor pendiente del terreno; enfocados principalmente en la disponibilidad de alimento y cobertura.

Sistema integral de cría de organismos vegetales en condiciones ambientales variables (IE 3000)

La Estación Experimental del INTA Bariloche tenía la necesidad de contar con recintos de ambiente contro- lado en cuanto a variables ambientales y programables para someter a coníferas a las condiciones extremas de la Patagonia Argentina y evaluar su desempeño. La investigación y sus resultados tienen como fin desarrollar plantines de coníferas adaptados y resistentes capaces de sobrevivir en zonas actualmente desérticas de Argentina. INTA elabora un pliego de especificaciones generales a partir de sus necesidades y la empresa Consultar S.H. con la asistencia de este Grupo de Investigación, elabora una propuesta técnica que resulta aprobada permitiendo desarrollar y fabricar dos Cámaras de Ambiente Controlado para Cría de Coníferas con capa- cidad de control para temperatura, humedad y radiación con control realimentado por un sensor de energía en región fotosintéticamente activa PAR. Cada cámara permite ambientar el microclima con franjas diurnas y nocturnas de manera homogénea dentro del recinto controlado. Además se permite generar climas estacionarios programados con hasta un año de antelación y con registro continuo de las variables ambientales.The INTA experimental station located at Bariloche had the necessity of arrange two environment controlled cameras of growing control. They wanted to asses the behavior of different pines of Argentinian Patagonic types. The goal is to obtain small pine plants adapted and resistant in the desert areas of Argentina in order to be able to survive in those conditions. INTA prepares a list of specifications which meets your needs. The company Consultar S.H., with the assis- tance of this Research Group, prepares a technical proposal. The proposal is approved, it possible to develop and manufacture two controlled environmental chambers for Conifer Breeding capacity to control tem-perature, humidity and radiation controlled by a sensor feedback energy PAR photosynthetically active re-gion. Each camera can acclimate the microclimate with daytime and evening slots uniformly controlled within the enclosure. You can generate stationary weather programmed with up to one year in advance and continuous record of environmental variablesSociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Sistema de adquisición y registro de crecimiento vegetal (SARC-V)

El Instituto de Fitopatología y Fisiología Vegetal (IFFIVE) del INTA tenía la necesidad de registrar de manera automática el crecimiento de lotes de plantas sometidos a ensayos y adaptación. La Dra. Edith Taleisnik, investigadora del INTA y CONICET se contactó con este grupo de investigación a los fines de estudiar la factibilidad técnica y sintonizar necesidades con recursos. Finalmente se logra una propuesta técnica que cumplía con los requisitos iniciales y superaba las expectativas. Este proyecto es el resultado de una exhaustiva investigación, y tiene como objetivo principal diseñar y construir el dispositivo que proporciona valiosa información vinculada a la medición y valoración instantánea de la tasa de acción de las plantas, frente a las condiciones generadas por los diferentes sustratos y contextos aerógenos, responsables de dar soportabilidad y vínculo con los nutrientes influyentes en el crecimiento vegetal. Con este trabajo se busca fomentar el uso de tecnología para la captación, registro y comunicación de parámetros que sirvan para aumentar la eficiencia de la industria agrícola. Se propuso, para tal fin, la utilización de un equipo de avanzada, que mediante un soporte informático, permite registrar el crecimiento en tiempo y elongación, almacenando los datos y permitiendo, además, realizar el seguimiento en tiempo real desde cualquier terminal de la red.The Institute of Phytopathology and Plant Physiology (IFFIVE) of the INTA had the need to record automatically the growth of individual lots of plants tested and adaptation. Dr. Edith Taleisnik, a researcher in the INTA and CONICET contacted this research group for the purposes of studying the technical feasibility and tuning needs with resources. Finally achieved a technical proposal that met the initial requirements and exceeded expectations. This project is the result of a thorough investigation and has as main objective provide valuable information related to the measurement and valuation snapshot of the rate of action of the plants, compared to the conditions generated by the different substrates and contexts aerogenos, responsible for giving realisation and link with the influential nutrients in plant growth. With this work seeks to foster the use of technology for the collection, recording and communication of parameters that would serve to increase the efficiency of the agricultural industry. It was proposed, to that end, the use of an advanced device, that through a computer-readable form, enables you to register the growth in time and elongation, it stores, also allowing us to make real-time monitoring from any terminal on the network.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Embedding catgut in patients with migraine headache according to traditional diagnosis

Introducción: la cefalea migrañosa es una de las enfermedades neurológicas que más se presenta en la práctica y que afecta de manera directa las actividades de la vida diaria. Objetivo: evaluar la respuesta terapéutica de la implantación de catgut en los pacientes con cefalea migrañosa según el diagnóstico tradicional. Método: se realizó una investigación de intervención, prospectiva, cuasi experimental en el Hospital “Comandante Manuel Fajardo Rivero” de la Provincia de Villa Clara en el período de octubre de 2013 a septiembre de 2017. La muestra quedó conformada, a través de un método no probabilístico, por 63 pacientes que, de forma aleatoria, se dividieron en dos grupos. A todos se les indicó tratamiento farmacológico por el Especialista de Neurología. El grupo estudio, además, llevó tratamiento con implantación de catgut en puntos acupunturales según el diagnóstico por Zang Fu y efectos tradicionales. Se realizaron cuatro cortes evaluativos. Resultados: la edad promedio fue de 35,4±7,3, con predominio del sexo femenino en ambos grupos; prevaleció el diagnóstico de hiperactividad de Yang de hígado y los pacientes con ascenso de fuego de hígado e hiperactividad de Yang de hígado no necesitaron la ergofeína. Conclusiones: la respuesta terapéutica del grupo estudio fue satisfactoria en mayor número de pacientes que en el grupo control.Introduction: migraine headache is one of the neurological diseases that occurs most in practice and directly affects the activities of daily life. Objective: to evaluate the therapeutic effect of catgut implantation in patients with migraine headache according to the traditional diagnosis. Method: a prospective, quasi-experimental intervention was carried out in the Hospital Comandante Manuel Fajardo Rivero of Villa Clara Province, from October 2013 to September 2017. The sample was formed, through a non-probabilistic method, by 63 patients who, at random, were divided into two groups. All were prescribed pharmacological treatment by the Neurology Specialist. The study group also took treatment with catgut implantation in acupuncture points according to the diagnosis by Zang Fu and traditional effects. Four evaluation cuts were made. Results: the average age was 35,4 ± 7,3, with predominance of females in both groups; The diagnosis of Yang hyperactivity of the liver prevailed and patients with liver fire rise and liver Yang hyperactivity did not need ergoffein. Conclusions: the therapeutic effect of the study group was satisfactory in a larger number of patients than in the control group

Granulomatous hypophysitis by Mycobacterium gordonae in a non HIV-infected patient

Lymphocytic or granulomatous hypophysitis is a rare entity with a difficult diagnosis. Our objective was to report a patient with non-tuberculous granulomatous hypophysitis. An HIV-negative 45-year old man with confusional state, subacute ophthalmoplegia, and clinical and laboratory findings of panhypopituitarism was seen in the emergency unit. A cranial MRI showed a sellar mass suggestive of hypophysitis. After an unsuccessful attempt with steroids and antituberculous drugs the patient died. Post-mortem histopathology revealed granulomatous lesions and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis confirmed the presence of Mycobacterium gordonae’s DNA. In conclusion, we should consider granulomatous hypophysitis in the differential diagnosis of non-secreting hypophyseal tumors. The etiology of a pituitary granuloma by a non-tuberculous mycobacteria is best reached by histopathological techniques and molecular assays. The optimal therapy is yet to be established