Introduction of the Problem-based learning methodology in the teaching of Legal Veterinary

[ES] El aprendizaje basado en problemas (ABP) es una estrategia de enseñanza centrada en el alumno, que adquirirá conceptos complejos llevando a la práctica conocimientos previos sobre una disciplina concreta. En el campo de la Veterinaria Legal, el peritaje forense forma parte central de los conocimientos que el alumno debe adquirir. Desde el curso 2010/2011, los alumnos de Veterinaria de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, realizan un peritaje forense mediante ABP. Los alumnos, divididos en grupos de 6-8 individuos, trabajan un problema desde dos puntos de vista diferentes: el del demandado y el del demandante. Durante el proceso, los alumnos son tutorizados y las dos posturas se enfrentan en el aula para defender su postura, donde el profesor ejerce de juez, y el resto de compañeros de jurado. La actividad es valorada con 1-3 puntos. Durante 5 cursos, un total de 275 alumnos han realizado la actividad, con el 50,91% de los alumnos obteniendo la máxima calificación.  Los  alumno[EN] Problem-based learning (PBL) is an educational  strategy  centered  on  the student, who will acquire complex concepts being implemented prior knowledge about a particular discipline. In the field of  Legal  Veterinary,  forensic  expertise is a central part of the knowledge that students must acquire. Since 2010/2011, veterinary students from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, complete a  forensic  expertise  through  PBL.  The students, separated in two groups of 6-8 subjects, work on a problem from two different points of view: defendant and claimant. During the process, students are tutored and the two positions facing in the classroom to defend their point. At that time, the teacher acts as judge, and the rest of students act as jury. the activity is assessed with 1-3 points. For 5 courses, a total of 275 students have completed the activity, with 50.91% of students obtaining the  highest  qualification.  Students  are satisfied with the activity. We therefore conclude Henríquez Hernández, LA.; Pérez Luzardo, O.; Domínguez Boada, L.; Almeida González, M.; Zumbado Peña, M. (2015). Aplicación de la metodología de aprendizaje basado en problemas a la docencia de Veterinaria Legal. REDU. Revista de Docencia Universitaria. 13(3):171-188. https://doi.org/10.4995/redu.2015.5456OJS171188133Albanese, M.A., Mitchell, S. (1993). Problem-based learning: A Review of literature on its outcomes and implementations issues. Academic Medicine, 68, 52-81. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001888-199301000-00012Aspy, D.N., Aspy, C.B., Quimby, P.M. (1993). What Doctors Can Teach Teachers about Problem-Based Learning. Educational Leadership, 50, 22-24.Barrows, H.S. (1971). Simulated Patients (programmed patients). The development and use of a new technique in medical education. C.C. Thomas: Springfield, USA.Barrows, H.S. (1986). A taxonomy of problem-based learning methods. Medical Education, 20, 481-486. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2923.1986.tb01386.xBarrows, H.S. (1993). An overview of the uses of standardized patients for teaching and evaluating clinical skills. Academic Medicine, 68, 399-405. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001888-199306000-00002Barrows, H.S., Tamblyn, R. (1980). Problem-Based Learning: An Approach to Medical Education. Springer Series on Medical Education Vol 1, Springer Publishing Company: New York.Biggs, J.B. (2005). Calidad del aprendizaje universitario. Narcea: Madrid.Blumberg, P., Michael, J.A. (1992). Development of self-directed learning behaviors in a partially teacher-directed problem-based learning curriculum. Teaching and Learning in Medicine, 4, 3-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/10401339209539526Bridges, E.M., Hallinger, P. (1991). Problem-Based Learning in Medical and Managerial Education. Paper presented for the Cognition and School Leadership Conference of the National Center for Educational Leadership and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Nashville, USA.Dochy, F., Segers, M., Van den Bossche, P., Gijbels, D. (2003). Effects of Problem-Based Learning: A Meta-Analysis. Learning and Instruction, 13, 533-568. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0959-4752(02)00025-7Farnsworth, C.C. (1994). Using Computer Simulations in Problem-Based Learning. En M. Orey (Ed.), Proceedings of the Thirty-fifth ADCIS Conference. Nashville, USA: Omni Press.Gallagher, S.A., Stepien, W.J., Rosenthal, H. (1992). The Effects of Problem-Based Learning on Problem Solving. Gifted Child Quarterly, 36, 195-200. https://doi.org/10.1177/001698629203600405Lane, E.A. (2008). Problem-Based Learning in Veterinary Education. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education,35, 631-636. https://doi.org/10.3138/jvme.35.4.631Mennin, S.P., Friedman, M., Skipper, B., Kalishman, S., Snyder, J. (1993). Performances on the NBME I, II, and III by Medical Students in the Problem-Based Learning and Conventional Tracks at the University of New Mexico'. Academic Medicine, 68, 616-624. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001888-199308000-00012Morales, P., Landa, V. (2004). Aprendizaje basado en problemas, Theoria, 13, 145-157.Norman, G.R., Schmidt, H.G. (1992). The Psychological Basis of Problem-Based Learning: A Review of the Evidence. Academic Medicine, 67, 557-565. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001888-199209000-00002Pincus, K.V. (1995). Introductory Accounting: Changing the First Course. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 61, 88-98. https://doi.org/10.1002/tl.37219956112Vernon, D.T., Blake, R.L. (1993). Does Problem-Based Learning Work?: A Meta-Analysis of Evaluative Research. Academic Medicine, 68, 550-563. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001888-199307000-0001

Critical review of analytical methods for the determination of flame retardants in human matrices

Human biomonitoring is a powerful approach in assessing exposure to environmental pollutants. Flame retardants (FRs) are of particular concern due to their wide distribution in the environment and adverse health effects. This article reviews studies published in 2009-2020 on the chemical analysis of FRs in a variety of human samples and discusses the characteristics of the analytical methods applied to different FR biomarkers of exposure, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), novel halogenated flame retardants (NHFRs), bromophenols, incl. tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and organophosphorous flame retardants (PFRs). Among the extraction techniques, liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and solid phase extraction (SPE) were used most frequently due to the good efficiencies in the isolation of the majority of the FR biomarkers, but with challenges for highly lipophilic FRs. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is mainly applied in the instrumental analysis of PBDEs and most NHFRs, with recent inclusions of GC-MS/MS and high resolution MS techniques. Liquid chromatography-MS/MS is mainly applied to HBCD, bromophenols, incl. TBBPA, and PFRs (including metabolites), however, GC-based analysis following derivatization has also been used for phenolic compounds and PFR metabolites. Developments are noticed towards more universal analytical methods, which enable widening method scopes in the human biomonitoring of FRs. Challenges exist with regard to sensitivity required for the low concentrations of FRs in the general population and limited sample material for some human matrices. A strong focus on quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) measures is required in the analysis of FR biomarkers in human samples, related to their variety of physical-chemical properties, low levels in most human samples and the risk of contamination.This study was part of the HBM4EU project receiving funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 733032. The authors acknowledge Berith E. Knudsen for her help with the literature search.S

Big sales, no carrots: Assessment of pesticide policy in Spain

This paper explores Spanish pesticide policy with a focus on developments during the last decade. Spain is one of the greatest global consumers of conventional pesticides and leader in various related rankings among European Union countries. However, reviews of pesticide policies examining the key plans, facts, strategies and stakeholders are largely lacking. In providing an overview of Spanish responses to the European Directive 2009/128/EC on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides, this article contributes to filling this research gap. Spanish National Action Plans lack measurable quantitative objectives for reduction in the use of conventional pesticides and further implementation of Integrated Pest Management. Spanish National Action Plans also lack strategies for informing citizens about pesticide residues, and efficient means of keeping up to date with the authorisation of new active substances and delivery of pesticide use and sales data, in time and form. Moreover, there are no clear trends in conventional pesticide use reduction and sales, despite a significant reduction in the use of the more toxic active substances. Overall, this paper reveals various important shortcomings and incongruences in Spanish pesticide policy, which deserve further scholarly exploration and should be a matter of concern for public bodies.This paper was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, project ‘The social construction of food quality: mediations between production and consumption in a knowledge based economy’, Ref. Q2432001B, and by the Spanish Plan of Innovation, Technical and Scientific Research 2017-2020 – Ramón & Cajal Ref RYC2018-024025-I.Peer reviewe

Exposición inadvertida a plaguicidas organoclorados (DDT y DDE) en la población de las Islas Canarias

Los plaguicidas organoclorados (OCs) son contaminantes universalmente extendidos, detectables en casi todos los sistemas biológicos debido a su alta estabilidad y liposolubilidad. Este estudio determina la presencia del DDT (p,p´-DDT) y su principal metabolito el DDE (p,p´-DDE) en una muestra representativa de la población del Archipiélago Canario. En éste se ha impuesto en las últimas décadas la agricultura intensiva, utilizando grandes cantidades de pesticidas, entre ellos el DDT (prohibido en España y Europa al final de la década de los 70). Dado que los OCs presentan una alta persistencia en el ambiente y sufren biomagnificación y bioamplificación en la cadena trófica, el estudio cuantitativo de la presencia residuos de estos compuestos en suero humano nos indica la exposición pasada y presente a los mismos. Nuestros resultados demuestran que el conjunto de la población canaria, presenta unos niveles muy superiores a la media europea y que sigue existiendo una exposición a este producto en nuestros días. Resumiendo, según nuestro estudio, el perfil tipo de la persona expuesta a mayores niveles de estos contaminantes en las Islas Canarias es: mujer, mayor de 20 años, residente en Gran Canaria en un área semiurbana o urbana

Differences in the levels of sulphites and pesticide residues in soils and wines and under organic and conventional production methods

The surface and output of organic agriculture is growing steadily in recent years, being generally seen as a healthier, safer and more sustainable alternative to conventional agriculture. Comparisons between organic and conventional products are nonetheless scarce in the literature, especially in the case of wine. The aim of this study was to compare sulphite content and pesticide residues in both soils and wines under organic and conventional production. Fourteen samples of organic and conventional wines and vineyard soils were collected in pairs for each of the seven wine-producing islands of the Canary Islands. A QuEChERS-based method was employed to detect 218 pesticides and 49 POPs. Sulphites were measured by potentiometric titration with a double electrode. On average, higher levels of sulphites were found in conventional wines. Similarly, conventional wines presented higher numbers and concentrations of pesticide residues both in soils and wines than their organic counterparts. The overall pesticide concentrations in our sample was 4.2 µg/kg. Conventional wines presented a considerably higher average concentration than organic wines (8.2 against 0.25 µg/kg). In turn, concentrations in conventional soils averaged 8.7 against 2.8 µg/kg in organic soils, a 68.19 % lower residue concentration. The analytes most commonly found were PCB 28, p,p′-DDE, tebuconazole and the metabolite 4,4′-dichlorobenzophenone in soils and mefenoxam, tebuconazole, fluopyram and boscalid in wines. No single wine exceeded the 10 % of the MRLs established by the European Union for wine grapes. However, the presence of low levels of pesticides in organic wines should be monitored.This paper was supported by the Spanish Plan of Innovation, Technical and Scientific Research 2017–2020 – Ramón and Cajal Ref. RYC2018-024025-I. The text was edited by Guido Jones, currently funded by the Cabildo de Tenerife, under the TFinnova Programme supported by MEDI and FDCAN funds.Peer reviewe

An open dataset of anticoagulant rodenticides in liver samples from California kingsnakes and raptors in Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain)

It is well known that rodenticides are widely used, and there are multiple routes by which they can reach non-target wildlife species. Specifically, in the Canary Islands, a high and concerning incidence of these compounds has been reported. However, in this scenario, reptiles remain one of the least studied taxa, despite their potential suitability as indicators of the food chain and environmental pollution has been noted on several occasions. In this context, the California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis Californiae), widely distributed on the island of Gran Canaria, occupies a medium trophic level and exhibits feeding habits that expose it to these pollutants, could be studied as a potential sentinel of exposure to these compounds. For this reason, 360 snake livers were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Similarly, 110 livers of birds of prey were sampled. Thus, we present the analysis of 10 anticoagulant rodenticides (warfarin, diphacinone, chlorophacinone, coumachlor, coumatetralyl, brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difethialone, difenacoum and flocoumafen) in both data series; snakes, and raptors. Furthermore, this dataset includes biological data (weight, length, sex, colour, and design pattern), geographic data (distribution area and municipalities) and necropsy findings that could be of interest for a better understanding of this snake species and for future studies

Toxicity of tire particle leachates on early life stages of keystone sea urchin species

Particles from tires are a major fraction of microplastic pollution. They contain a wide range of chemical additives that can leach into the water and be harmful to aquatic organisms. In this study, we investigated the acute toxicity of tire particle leachates in early life stages of three keystone echinoderm species (Paracentrotus lividus, Arbacia lixula, Diadema africanum). Embryos were exposed for 72 h to a range of leachate dilutions, prepared using a concentratin of 1 g L-1. Larval growth, abnormal development, and mortality were the measured endpoints. Furthermore, we estimated the activity of glutathione S transferase (GST) and the electron transport chain (ETS) in P. lividus. Strong concentration-dependent responses were observed in all species, though with differing sensitivity. The median effect concentrations for abnormal development in P. lividus and A. lixula were 0.16 and 0.35 g L-1, respectively. In D. africanum, mortality overshadowed abnormal development and the median lethal concentration was 0.46 g L-1. Larvae of P. lividus were significantly smaller than the control from 0.125 g L-1, while the other two species were affected from 0.5 g L-1. ETS activity did not change but there was a non-significant trend of increasing GST activity with leachate concentration in P. lividus. Seven organic chemicals and eight metals were detected at elevated concentrations in the leachates. While we regard zinc as a strong candidate to explain some of the observed toxicity, it can be expected that tire particle leachates exhibit a cocktail effect and other leached additives may also contribute to their toxicity. Our results emphasize the importance of multi-species studies as they differ in their susceptibility to tire particle pollution. We found negative effects at concentrations close to projections in the environment, which calls for more research and mitigation actions on these pollutants

Elemental composition, rare earths and minority elements in organic and conventional wines from volcanic areas: The Canary Islands (Spain)

The organic wine market is rapidly growing worldwide, both in terms of production and consumption. However, the scientific literature is not conclusive regarding differences in the elemental composition of wines according to their production method, including both major and trace elements. Minerals can be present in wine as a result of both anthropogenic and environmental factors. To date, this has not been evaluated in volcanic contexts, neither has the emergent issue of rare earths and other minority elements as potential sources of food contamination. This study using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses organic and conventional wines produced in the Canary Islands (Spain), an archipelago of volcanic origin, to compare their content of 49 elements, including rare earths and minority elements. Our results showed that organic wines presented lower potential toxic element content on average than their conventional counterparts, but differences were not significant. Geographical origin of the wine samples (island) was the only significant variable differentiating wine samples by their composition profiles. By comparing our data with the literature, no agreement was found in terms of differences between organic and conventionally-produced wines. This confirms that other factors prevail over elemental composition when considering differences between wine production methods. Regarding the toxicological profile of the wines, five samples (three organic and two conventional) exceeded the maximum limits established by international legislation. This highlights the need for stricter analytical monitoring in the Canary Islands, with a particular focus on Cu and Ni concentration, and potentially in other volcanic areas.This paper was funded by the Cabildo de Tenerife (supported by the TFinnova Programme - MEDI and FDCAN) and the Agencia Estatal de Investigación of Spain, RYC2018- 024025-I. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewe

Fuentes de exposición infantil a pesticidas

Pesticides can be a health risk factor. We review the main sources of pesticide exposure for children, such as pesticide residues present in food, pesticide residues in the home or in the school environment, parental occupation, prenatal exposure, breast-feeding exposure and a number of pharmaceutical products. In addition, we suggest some advices to reduce the exposure and, therefore, the health risks associated.Los pesticidas pueden ser un factor de riesgo en la salud infantil. En el artículo se revisan las principales fuentes de exposición infantil a estos compuestos tóxicos, tales como los residuos de pesticidas en los alimentos, los pesticidas utilizados en el hogar y en los cultivos cercanos al hogar o a los colegios, la profesión de los padres, la exposición prenatal, la lactancia materna y algunos productos farmacéuticos. En la discusión se sugieren algunas medidas para atenuar la exposición infantil a pesticidas