The pyramidal tutorial as a learning strategy for the design and development of the final project of the degrees in Education

La Declaración de Bolonia (1999) y la implantación del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (2010) en el marco de la universidad española han supuesto una serie de cambios significativos que, quienes nos dedicamos a la Educación Superior, hemos analizar y valorar con el objetivo de comprometernos a mejorar. En este contexto, la inserción de los Trabajos Fin de Grado en el sistema universitario español ha sido una de las novedades más sobresalientes en este nuevo marco educativo. Así, la mayoría de los centros de Educación Superior tuvieron que hacer un esfuerzo ingente por diseñar, adecuar y darle sentido a una asignatura completamente nueva y que irrumpía con fuerza en el panorama universitario. El Trabajo Fin de Grado se constituye como un espacio y un tiempo propicio para que el alumnado, al final de su proceso de formación, vuelque y demuestre su capacitación como profesional. Tras las experiencias previas desarrolladas, el diseño y desarrollo del Trabajo Fin de Grado esta siendo una tarea que demanda una gran coordinación por parte de los equipos docentes. Por ello, hemos querido hacer nuestra esta preocupación, poniendo en marcha una actividad de innovación docente encaminada a que el alumnado trabaje en grupo para perfeccionar el diseño de sus trabajos finales en las diferentes titulaciones que se imparten en la Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación de la Universidad de Córdoba, incorporando la tutoría piramidal en el proceso de seguimiento del proyecto. Esta innovadora propuesta de trabajo colaborativo ha supuesto la planificación, diseño y corrección de más de 30 Trabajos Fin de Grado que, en su fase final de evaluación, han obtenido unos resultados excelentes en el conjunto de las defensas llevadas a cabo en las convocatorias de julio y septiembre de dicha Facultad.The Bologna Declaration (1999) and the implementation of the European Higher Education Area (2010) in the Spanish University system have entailed a series of significant changes that those devoted to Higher Education need to analyse and assess to commit to improving. In this context, the introduction of the Final Projects in all the degrees of the Spanish University system has been one of the most remarkable novelties in this new educational framework. Most Spanish Higher Education centres had to make a major effort to design, adapt and give meaning to this new subject, unavoidable in the university landscape. The Final Project arises in an ideal space and time so that students, at the end of their academic process, are able to demonstrate their skills as professionals. Based on previous experiences, the design and development of the Final Project is a task that requires strong coordination among the teaching teams. In this light, we have decided to face this issue by developing a teaching innovation activity in the Faculty of Education Sciences at the University of Córdoba. This innovation activity is focused on the fact that students work in group to improve the design of their Final Projects, including the pyramid tutorial in the monitoring process. This innovation proposal, based on collaborative work, has entailed the planning, design and revision of over 30 Final Projects that in their final stage of assessment have obtained excellent results in the calls of July and September of the aforementioned Faculty

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis

[Purpose]: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. [Methods]: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. [Results]: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 ≥ 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients ≥80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%,65 years; 20.5%,65-79 years; 31.3%,≥80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%,<65 years;30.1%,65-79 years;34.7%,≥80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%,≥80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age ≥ 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32–3.34), CCI ≥ 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39–1.88),and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16–1.58).When the three age groups were compared,the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. [Conclusion]: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

COVID-19: perspectivas de una vacuna desde la bibliometría

&nbsp;&nbsp;Objetivo: caracterizar la producción Scopus relacionada con el coronavirus y el Severe Acute Respiratory (SAR) para perfilar desde los indicadores bibliométricos las capacidades relacionadas con autores, grupos e instituciones en busca de una vacuna. &nbsp;Método: Análisis bibliométrico &nbsp;Población: 4151 artículos publicados en SCOPU

La tutoría piramidal como estrategia de aprendizaje para el diseño y desarrollo del Trabajo Final de Grado en Educación

The Bologna Declaration (1999) and the implementation of the European Higher Education Area (2010) in the Spanish University system have entailed a series of significant changes that those devoted to Higher Education need to analyse and assess to commit to improving. In this context, the introduction of the Final Projects in all the degrees of the Spanish University system has been one of the most remarkable novelties in this new educational framework. Most Spanish Higher Education centres had to make a major effort to design, adapt and give meaning to this new subject, unavoidable in the university landscape. The Final Project arises in an ideal space and time so that students, at the end of their academic process, are able to demonstrate their skills as professionals. Based on previous experiences, the design and development of the Final Project is a task that requires strong coordination among the teaching teams. In this light, we have decided to face this issue by developing a teaching innovation activity in the Faculty of Education Sciences at the University of Córdoba. This innovation activity is focused on the fact that students work in group to improve the design of their Final Projects, including the pyramid tutorial in the monitoring process. This innovation proposal, based on collaborative work, has entailed the planning, design and revision of over 30 Final Projects that in their final stage of assessment have obtained excellent results in the calls of July and September of the aforementioned Faculty.La Declaración de Bolonia (1999) y la implantación del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (2010) en el marco de la universidad española han supuesto una serie de cambios significativos que, quienes nos dedicamos a la Educación Superior, hemos analizar y valorar con el objetivo de comprometernos a mejorar. En este contexto, la inserción de los Trabajos Fin de Grado en el sistema universitario español ha sido una de las novedades más sobresalientes en este nuevo marco educativo. Así, la mayoría de los centros de Educación Superior tuvieron que hacer un esfuerzo ingente por diseñar, adecuar y darle sentido a una asignatura completamente nueva y que irrumpía con fuerza en el panorama universitario. El Trabajo Fin de Grado se constituye como un espacio y un tiempo propicio para que el alumnado, al final de su proceso de formación, vuelque y demuestre su capacitación como profesional. Tras las experiencias previas desarrolladas, el diseño y desarrollo del Trabajo Fin de Grado está siendo una tarea que demanda una gran coordinación por parte de los equipos docentes. Por ello, hemos querido hacer nuestra esta preocupación, poniendo en marcha una actividad de innovación docente encaminada a que el alumnado trabaje en grupo para perfeccionar el diseño de sus trabajos finales en las diferentes titulaciones que se imparten en la Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación de la Universidad de Córdoba, incorporando la tutoría piramidal en el proceso de seguimiento del proyecto. Esta innovadora propuesta de trabajo colaborativo ha supuesto la planificación, diseño y corrección de más de 30 Trabajos Fin de Grado que, en su fase final de evaluación, han obtenido unos resultados excelentes en el conjunto de las defensas llevadas a cabo en las convocatorias de julio y septiembre de dicha Facultad

Contemporary use of cefazolin for MSSA infective endocarditis: analysis of a national prospective cohort

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the real use of cefazolin for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infective endocarditis (IE) in the Spanish National Endocarditis Database (GAMES) and to compare it with antistaphylococcal penicillin (ASP). Methods: Prospective cohort study with retrospective analysis of a cohort of MSSA IE treated with cloxacillin and/or cefazolin. Outcomes assessed were relapse; intra-hospital, overall, and endocarditis-related mortality; and adverse events. Risk of renal toxicity with each treatment was evaluated separately. Results: We included 631 IE episodes caused by MSSA treated with cloxacillin and/or cefazolin. Antibiotic treatment was cloxacillin, cefazolin, or both in 537 (85%), 57 (9%), and 37 (6%) episodes, respectively. Patients treated with cefazolin had significantly higher rates of comorbidities (median Charlson Index 7, P <0.01) and previous renal failure (57.9%, P <0.01). Patients treated with cloxacillin presented higher rates of septic shock (25%, P = 0.033) and new-onset or worsening renal failure (47.3%, P = 0.024) with significantly higher rates of in-hospital mortality (38.5%, P = 0.017). One-year IE-related mortality and rate of relapses were similar between treatment groups. None of the treatments were identified as risk or protective factors. Conclusion: Our results suggest that cefazolin is a valuable option for the treatment of MSSA IE, without differences in 1-year mortality or relapses compared with cloxacillin, and might be considered equally effective

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis.

The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327  There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in th