Análisis del enfoque AICLE en Educación Infantil: la educación musical y auditiva en el aprendizaje de la lengua extranjera

Programa Oficial de Doutoramento en Equidade e Innovación en Educación. 5016V01[Resumen] Las políticas lingüísticas europeas promueven la formación de un ciudadano plurilingüe, para lo cual es necesario utilizar una metodología que favorezca este aprendizaje, como el enfoque AICLE. Por otro lado, la Educación Musical favorece el desarrollo de diferentes competencias, como la lingüística, máxime si ambas se inician a edades tempranas. Partiendo de la hipótesis de que la integración de la Educación Musical como herramienta en el aula de lengua extranjera favorece su adquisición, este trabajo se centra en el estudio y aplicación de las sinergias de ambas áreas. Para ello, tras la elaboración del marco teórico se analiza el empleo de la música en el aula de lengua extranjera a través de la observación y la entrevista. Finalizado el análisis se destacan las ventajas del trabajo en conjunto y se concluye la necesidad de una mayor formación del profesorado, tanto en metodologías para el plurilingüismo como para la docencia musical en Educación Infantil. Por último, teniendo en cuenta las conclusiones extraídas del marco teórico y los resultados del estudio, se diseña una propuesta de intervención interdisciplinar en la que se ejemplifica cómo aplicar el enfoque AICLE y el trabajo de la Educación Musical en Educación Infantil.[Resumo] As políticas lingüísticas europeas promoven a formación dun cidadán plurilingüe, para o cal é necesario utilizar unha metodoloxía que favoreza esa aprendizaxe, coma o enfoque AICLE. Por outro lado, a Educación Musical favorece o desenvolvemento de diferentes competencias, como a lingüística, máxime se ambas se inician a idades temperás. Partindo das hipótese de que a integración da Educación Musical como ferramenta na aula de lingua estranxeira favorece a súa adquisición, este traballo céntrase no estudio e aplicación das sinerxias de ambas áreas. Para isto, tras a elaboración do marco teórico analízase o emprego da música na aula de lingua estranxeira a través da observación e a entrevista. Finalizada a análise, destácanse as vantaxes do traballo en conxunto e conclúese a necesidade dunha maior formación do profesorado, tanto en metodoloxías para o plurilingüismo como para a docencia musical en Educación Infantil. Por último, tendo en conta as conclusión extraídas do marco teórico e os resultados do estudo, deséñase unha proposta de intervención interdisciplinar na que se exemplifica como aplicar o enfoque AICLE e o traballo da Educación Musical en Educación Infantil.[Abstract] European language policies promote the training of a plurilingual citizen. For this, it is necessary to use a methodology that supports this learning, such as the CLIL approach. Furthermore, music education stimulates the development of different skills, such as language, especially if both are started at an early age. Based on the hypothesis that the integration of Musical Education as a tool in the foreign language classroom promotes its acquisition, this work focuses on the study and application of synergies in both areas. For it, after the elaboration of the theoretical framework, the use of music in the foreign language classroom is analysed through the observation and the interview. Once the analysis has been completed, the advantages of working them together are highlighted and the need of teacher training is concluded, both in methodologies for multilingualism and for musical teaching in Early Childhood Education. Finally, taking into account the conclusions drawn from the theoretical framework and the results of the study, an interdisciplinary intervention proposal is designed in which it is exemplified how to apply the CLIL approach and the work of Musical Education in Early Childhood Education

Nanostructural differences in pectic polymers isolated from strawberry fruits with low expression levels of pectate lyase or polygalacturonase genes

Our research group has obtained transgenic strawberry plants expressing antisense sequences of either a pectate lyase (APEL lines) [1] or a polygalacturonase gene (APG lines) [2]. Both genes encode ripening-specific endo-pectinases with a common target, deesterified homogalacturonans, but each enzyme act by a different mechanism and pH range. Ripe fruits from both transgenic genotypes were significantly firmer than control, being APG fruits on average 25% firmer than APEL fruits. Cell wall analysis of both transgenic genotypes indicated that pectin fractions extracted with CDTA and sodium carbonate were significantly modified in transgenic fruits [2,3]. To gain insight in the role of these pectinases in pectin disassembly during ripening, CDTA and Na2CO3 pectins have been analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). APEL and APG CDTA pectins had similar contour lengths but both were significantly longer than control. Similarly, APG carbonate chains were longer than control, showing APEL carbonate chains an intermediate length. Furthermore, transgenic pectins displayed a more complex branching pattern and a higher number of micellar aggregates, especially in the sodium carbonate fractions of APG samples. Acid hydrolysis of carbonate pectins reduced the number of micellar aggregates. AFM analyses confirm that the inhibition of both pectinases reduces pectin disassembly, and also suggest that each pectinase acts on specific pectin domains. Particularly, polygalacturonase silencing induces more significant pectin modifications, nicely correlated with the firmer phenotype of APG fruits, than the down-regulation of pectate lyase

Surmounting Obstacles to Smoking Prevention: Barriers to Smoking Cessation Counseling at a Community-based Health Center in Connecticut

Background: Cigarette smoking is currently a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and throughout the world. Smoking cessation has emerged as an important preventative avenue for reducing the population-level attributable risk of cardiovascular, pulmonary, and oncologic disease due to cigarette smoking. Despite the health benefits of abstinence, durable smoking cessation is achieved by only a fraction of current smokers. As potential agents of change, healthcare providers possess the ability to promote smoking cessation through both counseling and pharmacotherapy. Consequently, the purpose of this investigation was to assess the challenges and limitations encountered by the Smoking Cessation Counseling Service at Optimus Health Care, the largest community-based health center in a low income area of Connecticut. Methods: Following a literature review of current best practices for smoking cessation in the clinical setting, this study utilized an interview and survey tool to identify the primary barriers to smoking cessation counseling in partnership with the healthcare providers at Optimus Health Care. Results: Preliminary demographic data indicated that approximately 88% of the smoking patients at Optimus Health Care have received smoking cessation counseling in the last 12 months. The main barriers assessed in this study included time with patients, patient motivation, access to cessation interventions, and patient comorbidities. Through a series of 14 healthcare provider interviews and 13 survey questionnaires throughout the locations of Optimus Health Care, this study illuminated the lack of time in clinician schedule, patient’s preparedness to quit, and competing patient comorbidities as the primary barriers to providing smoking cessation counseling. Conclusions: Understanding the barriers to smoking cessation counseling faced by healthcare providers in the community setting remains an important objective for disease prevention and public health. This study identified the main barriers cited by clinicians in the community setting towards providing smoking cessation and generates recommendations for community-based healthcare providers regarding surmounting barriers to smoking cessation counseling.https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/ysph_pbchrr/1039/thumbnail.jp

AFM study of strawberry pectin nanostructure and its relevance on fruit texture

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to characterize the nanostructure of cell wall pectins during strawberry fruit growth and ripening, as well as in transgenic fruits with pectinase genes downregulated. This technique allows the imaging of individual polymers at high magnification with minimal sample preparation. AFM studies during fruit development show that pectin size, ramification and aggregation is reduced in ripe fruits. Additionally, transgenic lines with different pectinase genes downregulated (polygalacturonase, pectate lyase and B-galactosidase) also show a more complex pectin nanostructure, including longer chains, higher branching degree and larger presence of aggregates. In all those cases the higher pectin complexity at nanoscale correlates with a reduced softening in strawberry fruits at macroscale level. Globally, our results support the key role of pectins in fruit structure and highlights the use of AFM as a powerful tool to gain insights about the bases of textural fruit quality not only in strawberry, but also in other commercial crops.AGL2017-86531-C2-1-R, Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad of Spain and FEDER EU funds. Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Heart Alterations after Domoic Acid Administration in Rats

Domoic acid (DA) is one of the best known marine toxins, causative of important neurotoxic alterations. DA effects are documented both in wildlife and experimental assays, showing that this toxin causes severe injuries principally in the hippocampal area. In the present study we have addressed the long-term toxicological effects (30 days) of DA intraperitoneal administration in rats. Different histological techniques were employed in order to study DA toxicity in heart, an organ which has not been thoroughly studied after DA intoxication to date. The presence of DA was detected by immunohistochemical assays, and cellular alterations were observed both by optical and transmission electron microscopy. Although histological staining methods did not provide any observable tissue damage, transmission electron microscopy showed several injuries: a moderate lysis of myofibrils and loss of mitochondrial conformation. This is the first time the association between heart damage and the presence of the toxin has been observedThe research leading to these results has received funding from the following Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) cofunded-grants. From Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico e Industrial (CDTI) and Technological Funds, supported by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Programa Nacional de Recursos y Tecnologías Agroalimentarias (AGL) AGL2012-40185-CO2-01, AGL2014-58210-R, and Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, GRC2013-016. From CDTI under India & Spain Innovating Program (ISIP) Programme, Spain, IDI-20130304 APTAFOOD. From the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme managed by REA—Research Executive Agency (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement 312184 PHARMASEAS

Stigmatization is common in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and correlates with quality of life

Background and aims: Stigmatization is a well-documented problem of some diseases. Perceived stigma is common in alcohol-related liver disease and hepatitis C, but little information exists on stigma in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Aim of the study was to investigate frequency and characteristics of perceived stigma among patients with NAFLD. Methods: One-hundred and ninety-seven patients seen at the liver clinic were included: a study group of 144 patients with NAFLD, 50 with cirrhosis (34 compensated, 16 decompensated), and a control group of 53 patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected. Quality-of-life was assessed by chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ). Perceived stigma was assessed using a specific questionnaire for patients with liver diseases categorized in 4 domains: stereotypes, discrimination, shame, and social isolation. Results: Perceived stigma was common in patients with NAFLD (99 patients, 69%) and affected all 4 domains assessed. The frequency was slightly higher, yet not significant, in patients with NAFLD cirrhosis vs those without (72% vs 67%, respectively; p = 0.576). In patients without cirrhosis perceived stigma was unrelated to stage of disease, since frequency was similar in patients with no or mild fibrosis compared to those with moderate/severe fibrosis (66% vs 68%, respectively). There were no differences in perceived stigma between patients with compensated cirrhosis and these with decompensated cirrhosis. Among patients with cirrhosis, stigmatization was more common in alcohol-related vs NAFLD-cirrhosis, yet differences were only significant in two domains. In patients with NAFLD, perceived stigma correlated with poor quality-of-life, but not with demographic or clinical variables. Conclusions: Perceived stigmatization is common among patients with NAFLD independently of disease stage, is associated with impaired quality-of-life, and may be responsible for stereotypes, discrimination, shame, and social isolation, which may affect human and social rights of affected patients

Atrial fibrillation as a new prognosis factor in chronic patients after hospitalization: the CHRONIBERIA index

A collaborative project in different areas of Spain and Portugal was designed to find out the variables that influence the mortality after discharge and develop a prognostic model adapted to the current healthcare needs of chronic patients in an internal medicine ward. Inclusion criteria were being admitted to an Internal Medicine department and at least one chronic disease. Patients’ physical dependence was measured through Barthel index (BI). Pfeiffer test (PT) was used to establish cognitive status. We conducted logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models to analyze the influence of those variables on one-year mortality. We also developed an external validation once decided the variables included in the index. We enrolled 1406 patients. Mean age was 79.5 (SD = 11.5) and females were 56.5%. After the follow-up period, 514 patients (36.6%) died. Five variables were identified as significantly associated with 1 year mortality: age, being male, lower BI punctuation, neoplasia and atrial fibrillation. A model with such variables was created to estimate one-year mortality risk, leading to the CHRONIBERIA. A ROC curve was made to determine the reliability of this index when applied to the global sample. An AUC of 0.72 (0.7–0.75) was obtained. The external validation of the index was successful and showed an AUC of 0.73 (0.67–0.79). Atrial fibrillation along with an advanced age, being male, low BI score, or an active neoplasia in chronic patients could be critical to identify high risk multiple chronic conditions patients. Together, these variables constitute the new CHRONIBERIA index

Endpoints and design of clinical trials in patients with decompensated cirrhosis: Position paper of the LiverHope Consortium

Management of decompensated cirrhosis is currently geared towards the treatment of complications once they occur. To date there is no established disease-modifying therapy aimed at halting progression of the disease and preventing the development of complications in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. The design of clinical trials to investigate new therapies for patients with decompensated cirrhosis is complex. The population of patients with decompensated cirrhosis is heterogeneous (i.e., different etiologies, comorbidities and disease severity), leading to the inclusion of diverse populations in clinical trials. In addition, primary endpoints selected for trials that include patients with decompensated cirrhosis are not homogeneous and at times may not be appropriate. This leads to difficulties in comparing results obtained from different trials. Against this background, the LiverHope Consortium organized a meeting of experts, the goal of which was to develop recommendations for the design of clinical trials and to define appropriate endpoints, both for trials aimed at modifying the natural history and preventing progression of decompensated cirrhosis, as well as for trials aimed at managing the individual complications of cirrhosis

CPEB alteration and aberrant transcriptome-polyadenylation lead to a treatable SLC19A3 deficiency in Huntington's disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder of the basal ganglia for which disease-modifying treatments are not yet available. Although gene-silencing therapies are currently being tested, further molecular mechanisms must be explored to identify druggable targets for HD. Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding proteins 1 to 4 (CPEB1 to CPEB4) are RNA binding proteins that repress or activate translation of CPE-containing transcripts by shortening or elongating their poly(A) tail. Here, we found increased CPEB1 and decreased CPEB4 protein in the striatum of patients and mouse models with HD. This correlated with a reprogramming of polyadenylation in 17.3% of the transcriptome, markedly affecting neurodegeneration-associated genes including PSEN1, MAPT, SNCA, LRRK2, PINK1, DJ1, SOD1, TARDBP, FUS, and HTT and suggesting a new molecular mechanism in neurodegenerative disease etiology. We found decreased protein content of top deadenylated transcripts, including striatal atrophy–linked genes not previously related to HD, such as KTN1 and the easily druggable SLC19A3 (the ThTr2 thiamine transporter). Mutations in SLC19A3 cause biotin-thiamine–responsive basal ganglia disease (BTBGD), a striatal disorder that can be treated with a combination of biotin and thiamine. Similar to patients with BTBGD, patients with HD demonstrated decreased thiamine in the cerebrospinal fluid. Furthermore, patients and mice with HD showed decreased striatal concentrations of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), the metabolically active form of thiamine. High-dose biotin and thiamine treatment prevented TPP deficiency in HD mice and attenuated the radiological, neuropathological, and motor HD-like phenotypes, revealing an easily implementable therapy that might benefit patients with HD