General Architecture for Development of Virtual Coaches for Healthy Habits Monitoring and Encouragement

Good health is the result of a healthy lifestyle, where caring about physical activity and nutrition are key concerns. However, in today’s society, nutritional disorders are becoming increasingly frequent, affecting children, adults, and elderly people, mainly due to limited nutrition knowledge and the lack of a healthy lifestyle. A commonly adopted therapy to these imbalances is to monitor physical activity and daily habits, such as recording exercise or creating custom meal plans to count the amount of macronutrients and micronutrients acquired in each meal. Nowadays, many health tracking applications (HTA) have been developed that, for instance, record energy intake as well as users’ physiological parameters, or measure the physical activity during the day. However, most existing HTA do not have a uniform architectural design on top of which to build other applications and services. In this manuscript, we present system architecture intended to serve as a reference architecture for building HTA solutions. In order to validate the proposed architecture, we performed a preliminary evaluation with 15 well recognized experts in systems and software architecture from different entities around world and who have estimated that our proposal can generate architecture for HTA that is adequate, reliable, secure, modifiable, portable, functional, and with high conceptual integrity. In order to show the applicability of the architecture in different HTA, we developed two telemonitoring systems based on it, targeted to different tasks: nutritional coaching (Food4Living) and physical exercise coaching (TrainME). The purpose was to illustrate the kind of end-user monitoring applications that could be developed. Keywords: telemonitoring; healthy habits; virtual coaches; system

Formación del profesorado universitario para la educación por competencias

La educación se encuentra en un proceso de análisis, revisión y transformaciones para responder a las demandas de la sociedad producto de los avances de la ciencia, la tecnología y los efectos de la globalización del conocimiento. El objetivo de este artículo de revisión es el de reflexionar acerca de la necesaria formación del profesorado universitario para la educación por competencias. La realidad del mundo actual implica exigencias y requerimientos, para que el ser humano esté en condiciones de enfrentar los diversos problemas del entorno por ello el proceso educativo debe apuntar a desarrollar una capacidad adaptativa a las circunstancias. El docente debe recibir una formación intelectual académica, pero también psicopedagógica. Cuando se habla de formación psicopedagógica de los profesores, necesariamente hay que referirse a un proceso amplio de preparación en la educación, con el fuerte compromiso de tomar una posición dentro del campo y de generar a la vez conocimientos sobre el mismo. La formación del docente debe ser de enfoque holístico y, necesariamente, debe darse de esa manera para que pueda guiar un significativo proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje

Simuladores de negocios para el programa de Marketing como herramienta de aprendizaje y construcción de habilidades gerenciales

Este artículo examina la aplicación de simuladores de negocios y de metodologías de participación activa en el área de marketing; ello permite comprender y experimentar casos asociados a variables microeconómicas a nivel organizacional. Los estudiantes podrán entender el impacto que genera en las distintas áreas la toma de decisiones gerenciales, permitiendo el desarrollo de habilidades académicas y profesionales. Para ese efecto, se utilizó como herramienta metodológica el simulador internacional Techcompany,relevante en el área de mercadeo.Esta investigación se hizo en el programa de Marketing y NegociosInternacionales de la Universidad Sergio Arboleda y ello permitió conocerel interés e influencias del simulador en los estudiantes y con ello, lasposibilidades de fomentar el aprendizaje y la excelencia académica.AbstractThis article examines business simulators and active participation tools in the marketing area; they provide insights and understanding in specific cases associated with microeconomics at an organizational level. Students may understand the impact provoked by management decisions, fostering the development of academic and professional skills. To this purpose, the international simulator Techcompany was used.Fecha de recepción: 23 de septiembre 2016Fecha de aprobación: 15 de noviembre de 2016Fecha de publicación: 6 de enero de 201

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Eugenol and MS-222 as Anesthetics in Zebrafish in Repeated Exposures and Post-Anesthesia Behaviour

The increasing use of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) in scientific experiments has made it necessary to implement anesthesia protocols guaranteeing minimum pain and suffering for these animals and ensuring the reliability of the results obtained from their research. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of two anesthetics, eugenol and MS-222, in consecutive administrations and evaluate the zebrafish behaviour after repeated anesthesia. Thus, several zebrafish were anaesthetized with eugenol, MS-222, and buffered MS-222 three times repeatedly with a 24-h interval between each exposure. The induction and recovery periods were also timed. Their swimming frequency was determined after each exposure to assess their behaviour after the anesthesia. Anesthesia induction was quicker with eugenol compared to MS-222. However, eugenol presented longer recovery times, which were prolonged after each exposure. Also, the swimming frequency was reduced after each anesthesia with eugenol. The buffered version of MS-222 was more efficacious than the non-buffered one. Both versions of MS-222 did not affect the swimming frequency. Based on these findings, we recommend the utilization of MS-222 buffered rather than eugenol when repeated, brief-duration anesthesia is necessitated for a study

An overview of the health effects of bisphenol a from a one health perspective

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound, considered as an “emerging pollutant”, that appears ubiquitously, contaminating the environment and food. It is an endocrine disruptor, found in a multitude of consumer products, as it is a constituent of polycarbonate used in the manufacture of plastics and epoxy resins. Many studies have evaluated the effects of BPA, using a wide range of doses and animal models. In this work, we carried out a review of relevant research related to the effects of BPA on health, through studies performed at different doses, in different animal models, and in human monitoring studies. Numerous effects of BPA on health have been described; in different animal species, it has been reported that it interferes with fertility in both females and males and causes alterations in their offspring, as well as being associated with an increase in hormone-dependent pathologies. Similarly, exposure to BPA has been related to other diseases of great relevance in public health such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, or neurodevelopmental disorders. Its ubiquity and nonmonotonic behavior, triggering effects at exposure levels considered “safe”, make it especially relevant when both animal and human populations are constantly and inadvertently exposed to this compound. Its effects at low exposure levels make it essential to establish safe exposure levels, and research into the effects of BPA must continue and be focused from a “One Health” perspective to take into account all the factors that could intervene in the development of a disease in any exposed organism

ANIMACIÓN DE UN MODELO 3D DEL ROBOT DARWIN-OP UTILIZANDO KINECT

Este documento describe herramientas relacionadas con la creación de video juegos, principalmente aquellas que soportan tareas como diseño y animación, con el propósito de integrar una representación gráfica en tres dimensiones del robot humanoide Darwin-OP. El objetivo se logra al animar esta representación mediante la incorporación de un esqueleto y el establecimiento de una conexión con el sensor movimientos de un Kinect. Los resultados iniciales de esta investigación de tipo exploratoria, muestran la factibilidad de animar articulaciones específicas de un personaje virtual a través de un dispositivo relativamente accesible.

Analysis of Indirect Biomarkers of Effect after Exposure to Low Doses of Bisphenol A in a Study of Successive Generations of Mice

Bisphenol A (BPA) is considered as being an emerging pollutant, to which both animal and human populations are continuously and inadvertently exposed. The identification of indirect biomarkers of effect could be a key factor in determining early adverse outcomes from exposure to low doses of BPA. Thus, this study on mice aims to evaluate and identify indirect biomarkers of effect through the analysis of their blood biochemistry, and of certain reproduction parameters after exposure to different BPA concentrations (0.5, 2, 4, 50, and 100 µg/kg BW/day) in drinking water over generations. Our results showed that there were no modifications in the reproductive parameters evaluated, like estrous cycle duration, litter size, or the percentage of the young alive at reaching the weaning stage, at the exposure levels evaluated. However, there were modifications in the biochemical parameters, e.g., alterations in the glucose levels, that increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the breeders at the higher exposure doses (50 and 100 µg/kg BW/day in F1; 50 µg/kg BW/day in F2 and 100 µg/kg BW/day in F3), that would suggest that the BPA could induce hyperglycemia and its complications in adult animals, probably due to some damage in the pancreas cells; albumin, that increased in the breeders exposed to the highest dose in F1 and F3, inferring possible hepatic alterations. Further, total proteins showed a diminution in their values in F1 and F2, except the group exposed to 100 µg/kg BW/day, whereas in F3 the values of this parameter increased with respect to the control group, this aspect likely being related to a possible hepatic and renal alteration. Based on these results, glucose, albumin, and total proteins could initially be considered as early indicators of indirect effect after prolonged exposure to low BPA doses over generations

Evaluation of the Toxicity of Bisphenol A in Reproduction and Its Effect on Fertility and Embryonic Development in the Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical substance commonly used in the manufacture of plastic products. Its inhalation or ingestion from particles in suspension, water, and/or polluted foods can trigger toxic effects related to endocrine disruption, resulting in hormonal, reproduction, and immunological alterations in humans and animals. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an ideal experimental model frequently used in toxicity studies. In order to assess the toxic effects of BPA on reproduction and embryonic development in one generation after parental exposure to it, a total of 80 zebrafish, males and females, divided into four groups in duplicate (n = 20) were exposed to BPA concentrations of 500, 50, and 5 µg L−1, along with a control group. The fish were kept in reproduction aquariums for 21 days. The embryos obtained in the crosses were incubated in a BPA-free medium and observed for signs of embryotoxicity. A histopathological study (under optical and electron microscopes) was performed of adult fish gonads. The embryos of reproducers exposed to BPA were those most frequently presenting signs of embryotoxicity, such as mortality and cardiac and musculoskeletal malformations. In the histopathological studies of adult individuals, alterations were found in ovocyte maturation and in spermatazoid formation in the groups exposed to the chemical. Those alterations were directly related to BPA action, affecting fertility in both sexes, as well as the viability of their offspring, proportionally to the BPA levels to which they were exposed, so that our results provide more information by associating toxic effects on the offspring and on the next generation

Development and implementation of a collaborative blog as a co-assessment instrument in Veterinary Medicine Degree

La evaluación educativa pretende comprometer al alumnado en su proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje mediante el uso de estrategias e instrumentos de coevaluación y autoevaluación. En este sentido, las tecnologías de la información y de la comunicación (TIC) promueven un clima de enseñanza más dinámico a través del aprendizaje activo, siendo los blogs colaborativos una herramienta muy útil de evaluación del alumnado. El objetivo de este proyecto ha sido evaluar la implementación de un blog como instrumento educativo para promover la autorregulación por medio de actividades de coevaluación y/o autoevaluación en el ámbito universitario. Se diseñó un blog de divulgación científica como recurso docente para la asignatura optativa de “el Animal de Laboratorio”, perteneciente al Grado de Veterinaria. Se evaluó mediante cuestionarios tanto la situación inicial del alumnado, como los logros finales respecto al objetivo planteado, siguiendo una metodología descriptiva. Según los resultados obtenidos, es innegable decir que el uso del blog ha sido una práctica innovadora, siendo en muchos casos la primera experiencia con TIC para el alumnado. Respecto a su implementación, los resultados han sido satisfactorios para la mejora motivacional, el aprendizaje y la dinamización metodológica. Todo ello, pone de manifiesto las múltiples ventajas que ofrecen los blogs como herramienta de coevaluación.The educational evaluation aims to engage students in their teaching-learning process through the use of strategies and instruments of co-assessment and self-assessment In this sense, information and communication technologies (ICT) promote a more dynamic teaching environment through active learning, and collaborative blogs appear as a very useful tool for student assessment. The aim of this project has been to evaluate the implementation of a blog as an educational instrument to promote self-regulation through co-evaluation and / or self-evaluation activities at the university. To this end, a scientific dissemination blog was designed as a teaching resource for the optional subject “the Laboratory Animal”, belonging to the Veterinary Science Degree syllabus. The starting point of the learning process of the students was evaluated by questionnaires, as well as the final achievements related to the proposed objective, following a descriptive methodology. According to the obtained results, it is undeniable that the development of the blog has been an innovative practice, being in many cases the first experience with ICT for students. Regarding its implementation, results suggest that students‟ motivation has improved, and the learning procedure and methodologies applied have been dynamized. All this shows the many advantages that blogs offer as a co-assessment tool

Acceleration of the DNA methylation clock among lynch syndrome‑associated mutation carriers

The research leading to these results has received funding from "la Caixa" Foundation (Ref: CAIXA2017/1) for library preparation, sequencing, and employment of research personnel, from The Fundacion Progreso y Salud, Junta de Andalucia, Spain and from DPI2017-84439-R of MINECO, Madrid and FEDER for sequencing and employment of research personnel. Finally, grant ref. A-BIO-470-UGR20 from University of Granada and FEDER has funded article processing charges (APC) and sample processing expenses.Background: DNA methylation (DNAm) age metrics have been widely accepted as an epigenetic biomarker for biological aging and disease. The purpose of this study is to assess whether or not individuals carrying Lynch Syndromeassociated mutations are affected in their rate of biological aging, as measured by the epigenetic clock. Methods: Genome-wide bisulfite DNA sequencing data were generated using DNA from CD4 + T-cells obtained from peripheral blood using 27 patient samples from Lynch syndrome families. Horvath’s DNAm age model based on penalized linear regression was applied to estimate DNAm age from patient samples with distinct clinical and genetic characteristics to investigate cancer mutation-related aging effects. Results: Both Lynch mutation carriers and controls exhibited high variability in their estimated DNAm age, but regression analysis showed steeper slope for the Lynch mutation carriers. Remarkably, six Lynch Syndrome-associated mutation carriers showed a strong correlation to the control group, and two sisters carrying Lynch Syndrome-associated mutations, with no significant difference in lifestyle and similar chronological age, were assigned very different DNAm age. Conclusions: Future studies will be required to explore, in larger patient populations, whether specific epigenetic age acceleration is predictive of time-to-cancer development, treatment response, and survival. Epigenetic clock DNAm metrics may be affected by the presence of cancer mutations in the germline, and thus show promise of potential clinical utility for stratified surveillance strategies based on the relative risk for imminent emergence of tumor lesions in otherwise healthy Lynch Syndrome-associated mutation carriers.La Caixa Foundation CAIXA2017/1Junta de AndaluciaSpanish Government DPI2017-84439-REuropean CommissionUniversity of Granada A-BIO-470-UGR2