Virtual Conductor for String Quartet Practice

This paper presents a system that emulates an ensemble conductor for string quartets. This application has been developed as a support tool for individual and group practice, so that users of any age range can use it to further hone their skills, both for regular musicians and students alike. The virtual conductor designed can offer similar indications to those given by a real ensemble conductor to potential users regarding beat times, dynamics, etc. The application developed allows the user to rehearse his/her performance without the need of having an actual conductor present, and also gives access to additional tools to further support the learning/practice process, such as a tuner or a melody evaluator. The system developed also allows for both solo practice and group practice. A set of tests were conducted to check the usefulness of the application as a practice support tool. A group of musicians from the Chamber Orchestra of Malaga including an ensemble conductor tested the system, and reported to have found it a very useful tool within an educational environment and that it helps to address the lack of this kind of educational tools in a self-learning environment.This work has been funded by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad of the Spanish Government under Project No. TIN2010-21089-C03- 02 and Project No. IPT-2011-0885-430000 and by the Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio under Project No. TSI-090100-2011-25

La comunicación intercultural y la formación de los futuros periodistas en el EEES

En este mundo globalizado y a las puertas de la implantación definitiva e irrevocable en nuestro país del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES), la cuestión de la interculturalidad se ha convertido en una realidad que no puede ser ignorada. En esta propuesta, analizaremos su evolución. Si a lo largo de los últimos años la interculturalidad se ha entendido como un reto socioeducativo y profesional, es ahora, y específicamente para los futuros profesionales de la comunicación, cuando se debe situar como una competencia transversal en su más vanguardista –y básica- formación.On a global World and in front of the definitive and non-stop establishment of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the phenomenon of interculturality has become a reality that can not be ignored. In this proposal, we analyze its evolution. During the past years, interculturality has been understood as a socio-educational and professional challenge, but is now, and specifically for future communication professionals, when it has to placed as a cross subject in its most competitive avant-garde –and basic- training

The professor in the Service-Learning: explanatory variables

Texto en inglés e españolLa metodología del aprendizaje-servicio es una de las más adecuadas para adaptarse a los cambios y a los nuevos retos sociales y educativos en el espacio universitario. Se trata de un enfoque que promueve un aprendizaje de tipo experiencial en el que el protagonismo no está en el profesorado sino en quienes ofrecen y en quienes reciben el servicio. Las razones para proponer esta metodología en las aulas universitarias son muy variadas, y tienen que ver con la mejora de los procesos educativos, la formación ética y ciudadana del alumnado, así como con la mejora de los vínculos existentes entre universidad y sociedad. Concretamente, nuestro objetivo en este trabajo es analizar cuáles son las variables que explican que un profesor universitario introduzca la metodología de aprendizaje-servicio en su quehacer docente. Metodología: Con este propósito,hemos llevado a cabo un estudio con 1903 docentes de 6 universidades españolas a los que se les ha aplicado el “Cuestionario sobre Práctica docente y Actitud del profesorado universitario hacia la Innovación” (CUPAIN). Resultados: Con los datos obtenidos realizamos una regresión logística con la finalidad de estimar la probabilidad de que un profesor universitario utilice o no el aprendizajeservicio según variables sociodemográficas (sexo, edad, tipo de materia, alumnos matriculados, situación administrativa, experiencia, ciclo), la práctica docente, el acuerdo con el compromiso social de la universidad y el interés por prácticas docentes innovadoras; y, posteriormente, un análisis de varianza multivariado (MANOVA) 5 X 2, y una prueba chi-cuadrado. Discusión y conclusiones: El análisis de los datos nos permite concluir que de todas las variables analizadas la que mejor predice el empleo del ApS por parte de los docentes es su acuerdo con el compromiso social de la universidad, de tal forma que la probabilidad de utilizar esta metodología es 3.52 veces mayor que no hacerloThe service-learning methodology is one of the most appropriate to adapt to changes, and new social and educational challenges in the Higher Education environment. This is an approach that promotes an experiential type of learning in which the teaching staff does not play a prominent role, but those who offer and receive the service. There are several reasons for proposing this methodology in the university classrooms, and they have to do with the improvement of the educational processes, students’ ethical and civic education, as well as with the improvement of the existing linkages between university and society. Specifically, our objective in this paper is to analyze which are the variables explaining the introduction of the service-learning methodology by a university professor. Methodology: To this end, a study involving 1903 professors from 6 Spanish universities was carried out. They were administered the “Questionnaire on Teaching Practice and Attitude of University Professors towards Innovation” (CUPAIN). Results: With the data obtained, a logistic regression was performed in order to estimate the probability that a university professor uses servicelearning according to sociodemographic variables (sex, age, type of subject, students enrolled, administrative situation, experience, cycle), teaching practice, agreement with the social commitment of the university and interest in innovative teaching practices; subsequently, a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) 5 X 2, and a Chi-square test were applied. Discussion and Conclusions: The data analysis allowed us to conclude that, of all the analyzed variables, the one that better predicts the use of SL by the professors is their engagement with the university’s social commitment, in such a way that the probability of using this methodology is 3.52 times higher than not doing itS

Evaluation framework for automatic singing transcription

In this paper, we analyse the evaluation strategies used in previous works on automatic singing transcription, and we present a novel, comprehensive and freely available evaluation framework for automatic singing transcription. This framework consists of a cross-annotated dataset and a set of extended evaluation measures, which are integrated in a Matlab toolbox. The presented evaluation measures are based on standard MIREX note-tracking measures, but they provide extra information about the type of errors made by the singing transcriber. Finally, a practical case of use is presented, in which the evaluation framework has been used to perform a comparison in detail of several state-of-the-art singing transcribers.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. This work has been funded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of the Spanish Government under Project No. TIN2013-47276-C6-2-R and by the Junta de Andalucía under Project No. P11-TIC-7154

Rhythm-Based Video Game Assessment.

Humans have shown a natural tendency to move or adapt, intentionally or unintentionally, to the beat of rhythmic auditory stimuli, such as music. This activity is sustained by a complex neuronal network, including perceptual regions, motor regions and sensorimotor integration areas. These abilities can be trained by practising, in this context music-based video games are a great tool to improve those rhythmic skills, like hand-eye coordination or synchronization. An important aspect of this tool is the feedback the players get after playing, so they know what they do right and what they do wrong. Thus, feedback plays a leading role in player’s improvement. The aim of this article is to develop an assessment scheme for a rhythm-based video game to help the users improve their rhythmic skills by playing. This scheme shows information like hit percentage, accuracy or the tendency to make early or late hits. In this way, only a few values provide users with a lot of feedback.This publication is part of the project PDC2021-120997-C33 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, and European Union “NextGeneration EU/PRTR”. This publication is part of the project PID2021-123207NB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, UE. This work was done at Universidad de Malaga, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Special thanks to Francisco Vargas Boza (Programmer), Juan Carlos Camuna Cotta (3D Modeler) and Isabel Tardón (2D Character designer) for their contribution to the development of the video game ‘Hammersong’

Human Placenta-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: A Review from Basic Research to Clinical Applications

Placenta-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (PMSC) present several aspects that make them more attractive as cellular therapy than their counterparts from other tissues, such as MSC from bone marrow or adipose tissue in regenerative medicine. Placenta-derived MSC have been used to treat a variety of disorders, such as, cancer, liver and cardiac diseases, ulcers, bone repair, and neurological diseases. Placenta-derived MSC are relatively new types of MSC with specific immunomodulatory properties and whose mechanisms are still unknown. Placenta-derived MSC secrete some soluble factors that seem to be responsible for their therapeutic effects, i.e., they have paracrine effects. On the other hand, Placenta-derived MSC can also serve as cellular vehicles and/or delivery systems for medications due to their migration capacity and their tropism for injury sites. Nanotechnology is an important field, which has undergone rapid development in recent years for the treatment of injured organs. Due to the special characteristics of placenta-derived MSC, the combination of these cells with nanotechnology will be a significant and highly promising field that will provide significant contributions in the regenerative medicine field in the near future

El profesorado universitario ante el aprendizaje-servicio: variables explicativas

Introducción: La metodología del aprendizaje-servicio es una de las más adecuadas para adaptarse a los cambios y a los nuevos retos sociales y educativos en el espacio universitario. Se trata de un enfoque que promueve un aprendizaje de tipo experiencial en el que el protagonismo no está en el profesorado sino en quienes ofrecen y en quienes reciben el servicio. Las razones para proponer esta metodología en las aulas universitarias son muy variadas, y tienen que ver con la mejora de los procesos educativos, la formación ética y ciudadana del alumnado, así como con la mejora de los vínculos existentes entre universidad y sociedad. Concretamente, nuestro objetivo en este trabajo es analizar cuáles son las variables que explican que un profesor universitario introduzca la metodología de aprendizaje-servicio en su quehacer docente. Metodología: Con este propósito, hemos llevado a cabo un estudio con 1903 docentes de 6 universidades españolas a los que se les ha aplicado el “Cuestionario sobre Práctica docente y Actitud del profesorado universitario hacia la Innovación” (CUPAIN). Resultados: Con los datos obtenidos realizamos una regresión logística con la finalidad de estimar la probabilidad de que un profesor universitario utilice o no el aprendizaje servicio según variables sociodemográficas (sexo, edad, tipo de materia, alumnos matriculados, situación administrativa, experiencia, ciclo), la práctica docente, el acuerdo con el compromiso social de la universidad y el interés por prácticas docentes innovadoras; y, posteriormente, un análisis de varianza multivariado (MANOVA) 5 X 2, y una prueba chi-cuadrado. Discusión y conclusiones: El análisis de los datos nos permite concluir que de todas las variables analizadas la que mejor predice el empleo del ApS por parte de los docentes es su acuerdo con el compromiso social de la universidad, de tal forma que la probabilidad de utilizar esta metodología es 3.52 veces mayor que no hacerlo.Introduction: The service-learning methodology is one of the most appropriate to adapt to changes, and new social and educational challenges in the Higher Education environment. This is an approach that promotes an experiential type of learning in which the teaching staff does not play a prominent role, but those who offer and receive the service. There are several reasons for proposing this methodology in the university classrooms, and they have to do with the improvement of the educational processes, students’ ethical and civic education, as well as with the improvement of the existing linkages between university and society. Specifically, our objective in this paper is to analyze which are the variables explaining the introduction of the service-learning methodology by a university professor. Methodology: To this end, a study involving 1903 professors from 6 Spanish universities was carried out. They were administered the “Questionnaire on Teaching Practice and Attitude of University Professors towards Innovation” (CUPAIN). Results: With the data obtained, a logistic regression was performed in order to estimate the probability that a university professor uses service learning according to sociodemographic variables (sex, age, type of subject, students enrolled, administrative situation, experience, cycle), teaching practice, agreement with the social commitment of the university and interest in innovative teaching practices; subsequently, a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) 5 X 2, and a Chi-square test were applied. Discussion and Conclusions: The data analysis allowed us to conclude that, of all the analyzed variables, the one that better predicts the use of SL by the professors is their engagement with the university’s social commitment, in such a way that the probability of using this methodology is 3.52 times higher than not doing it

The Challenge of Global Environmental Change: AttitudinalTrends in Teachers-In-Training

[Abstract] The aim of our research was to study attitudinal trends in Spanish trainee teachers regarding Global Environmental Change (GEC), in order to identify elements that should be enhanced in their education. The Scale of Global Environmental Change (SGEC) was used as a measurement instrument to explore attitudes on how to deal with GEC. A cluster analysis of the scores of the four SGEC factors (N = 950) was carried out in order to segment the cases into groups of similar response profiles. Two solutions are proposed: one made up of two clusters (Concerned and Disengaged) and the other of four clusters (Egocentric, Indifferent, Sceptical and Committed). Furthermore, we have analysed whether some of the students’ characteristics significantly influence their inclusion in one cluster or another. The results of this study show that among trainee teachers there are sceptical, self-centered and indifferent trends, which do not correspond to people capable of promoting the transformation needed to deal with GEC. Therefore, it is necessary to improve their training with new educational models that favour the recognition of the real origin of socio-environmental problems and provide them with skills to promote individual and social responsibility.Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (Spain) EDU2017-82915-R FEDER/Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities–Agencia Estatal de Investigación (Spain) / ESPIGA Project PGC2018-096581-B-C22

Drivers of oak establishment in Mediterranean old fields from 25-year-old woodland islets planted to assist natural regeneration

14 p.Planted woodland islets can provide seeds for restoring forest ecosystems in Mediterranean old fields lacking seed sources, but other factors than seed arrival can also hinder the establishment of woody species. We experimentally examined factors affecting the emergence, survival, growth and recruitment of holm oak (Quercus ilex) seedlings juveniles from 25-year-old 100-m2 oak woodland islets planted in a Mediterranean old field. Wet springs and summers increased seedling emergence and survival. Distance to the islets per se did not affect seedling performance. However, emergence and survival increased in microsites close to the islets in less sun-exposed orientations of the islets and far from the islets in more sun-exposed orientations. Damage by wild boar reduced emergence, and unsheltered seedlings had 26% lower survival than sheltered ones, reflecting herbivory. Herb community biomass and light reduction by herbs increased with distance from nearest islet; the sparse herb cover around islets was due to competition from woodland islets, not to herbivory. There was a mismatch between the pattern of seedling survival and how the abundance of naturally recruited oaks varied with distance from the nearest islet; this suggests that other drivers can counteract the spatial pattern of seedling survival. We conclude that natural regeneration of Q. ilex in old fields from planted woodland islets is slow (5.7 seedlings ha?1 yr?1) due to acorn and seedling predation, and drought during spring and summer. Despite their small size, planted islets affected survival of oak juveniles depending on the orientation and distance relative to the islets.Ministerio de Ciencia y TecnologíaMinisterio de Ciencia e InnovaciónComunidad Autónoma de Madri