Analysis of ischaemic crisis using the informational causal entropy-complexity plane

In the present work, an ischaemic process, mainly focused on the reperfusion stage, is studied using the informational causal entropy-complexity plane. Ischaemic wall behavior under this condition was analyzed through wall thickness and ventricular pressure variations, acquired during an obstructive flow maneuver performed on left coronary arteries of surgically instrumented animals. Basically, the induction of ischaemia depends on the temporary occlusion of left circumflex coronary artery (which supplies blood to the posterior left ventricular wall) that lasts for a few seconds. Normal perfusion of the wall was then reestablished while the anterior ventricular wall remained adequately perfused during the entire maneuver. The obtained results showed that system dynamics could be effectively described by entropy-complexity loops, in both abnormally and well perfused walls. These results could contribute to making an objective indicator of the recovery heart tissues after an ischaemic process, in a way to quantify the restoration of myocardial behavior after the supply of oxygen to the ventricular wall was suppressed for a brief period.Fil: Legnani, Walter. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Lanús; ArgentinaFil: Traversaro Varela, Francisco. Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Redelico, Francisco Oscar. Hospital Italiano; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes; ArgentinaFil: Cymberknop, Leandro Javier. Instituto Tecnologico de Buenos Aires. Departamento de Bioingenieria; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Armentano, Ricardo Luis. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Buenos Aires; Argentina. Instituto Tecnologico de Buenos Aires. Departamento de Bioingenieria; ArgentinaFil: Rosso, Osvaldo Aníbal. Universidad de los Andes; Chile. Universidade Federal de Alagoas; Brasil. Hospital Italiano; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

The teaching practices of novice teachers at the secondary level

Se sintetizan los resultados de una investigación orientada hacia el análisis de la práctica profesional, en cuanto al conocimiento de la disciplina y las formas de seleccionar los contenidos y estrategias para enseñar, que manejan los profesores principiantes. A partir de las observaciones y las narrativas docentes se detectó que la primera problemática que preocupa a los principiantes (en un 100% de las encuestas) consistía en las relaciones con los alumnos. En un segundo momento surgían las cuestiones relacionadas con la enseñanza. El foco específico del análisis sobre “la relación entre el conocimiento de la asignatura y las formas de seleccionar los contenidos para enseñar” se observó la coherencia entre ambos; además en las entrevistas destacaron (en un 100%) la excelente formación académica recibida, lo que les facilita la formulación de objetivos. Un problema recurrente que se detectó y se manifestó como un obstáculo difícil de solucionar es la confección de las planificaciones y secuencias didácticas, porque cada institución educativa establece disposiciones precisas que difieren de un establecimiento a otro, a pesar de las directivas del ministerio público provincial. En cuanto a las estrategias didácticas¸ se observó la preocupación de los novatos por implementar innovaciones en las clases con el uso de TIC, aunque con limitaciones.The results of a research oriented towards the analysis of professional practice are synthesized, in terms of the knowledge of the discipline and the ways of selecting the contents and strategies for teaching, which are handled by beginning teachers. From the observations and the teaching narratives it was detected that the first problematic that worries the beginners (in a 100% of the surveys) consisted in the relations with the students. In a second moment issues related to teaching arose. The specific focus of the analysis on "the relation between the knowledge of the subject and the ways of selecting the contents to teach" was observed the coherence between both. In addition, in the interviews they highlighted (100%) the excellent academic training received, which facilitates the formulation of objectives. A recurrent problem that was detected and manifested as a difficult obstacle to solve is the preparation of didactic plans and sequences, because each educational institution establishes precise provisions that differ from one establishment to another, despite the directives of the provincial public prosecutor. Regarding didactic strategies, it was observed the concern of the novices to implement innovations in the classes with the use of ICT, although with limitations.Dossier: Formación y prácticas docentesFacultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la EducaciónUniversidad Nacional del Litora

The teaching practices of novice teachers at the secondary level

Se sintetizan los resultados de una investigación orientada hacia el análisis de la práctica profesional, en cuanto al conocimiento de la disciplina y las formas de seleccionar los contenidos y estrategias para enseñar, que manejan los profesores principiantes. A partir de las observaciones y las narrativas docentes se detectó que la primera problemática que preocupa a los principiantes (en un 100% de las encuestas) consistía en las relaciones con los alumnos. En un segundo momento surgían las cuestiones relacionadas con la enseñanza. El foco específico del análisis sobre “la relación entre el conocimiento de la asignatura y las formas de seleccionar los contenidos para enseñar” se observó la coherencia entre ambos; además en las entrevistas destacaron (en un 100%) la excelente formación académica recibida, lo que les facilita la formulación de objetivos. Un problema recurrente que se detectó y se manifestó como un obstáculo difícil de solucionar es la confección de las planificaciones y secuencias didácticas, porque cada institución educativa establece disposiciones precisas que difieren de un establecimiento a otro, a pesar de las directivas del ministerio público provincial. En cuanto a las estrategias didácticas¸ se observó la preocupación de los novatos por implementar innovaciones en las clases con el uso de TIC, aunque con limitaciones.The results of a research oriented towards the analysis of professional practice are synthesized, in terms of the knowledge of the discipline and the ways of selecting the contents and strategies for teaching, which are handled by beginning teachers. From the observations and the teaching narratives it was detected that the first problematic that worries the beginners (in a 100% of the surveys) consisted in the relations with the students. In a second moment issues related to teaching arose. The specific focus of the analysis on "the relation between the knowledge of the subject and the ways of selecting the contents to teach" was observed the coherence between both. In addition, in the interviews they highlighted (100%) the excellent academic training received, which facilitates the formulation of objectives. A recurrent problem that was detected and manifested as a difficult obstacle to solve is the preparation of didactic plans and sequences, because each educational institution establishes precise provisions that differ from one establishment to another, despite the directives of the provincial public prosecutor. Regarding didactic strategies, it was observed the concern of the novices to implement innovations in the classes with the use of ICT, although with limitations.Dossier: Formación y prácticas docentesFacultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la EducaciónUniversidad Nacional del Litora

The teaching practices of novice teachers at the secondary level

Se sintetizan los resultados de una investigación orientada hacia el análisis de la práctica profesional, en cuanto al conocimiento de la disciplina y las formas de seleccionar los contenidos y estrategias para enseñar, que manejan los profesores principiantes. A partir de las observaciones y las narrativas docentes se detectó que la primera problemática que preocupa a los principiantes (en un 100% de las encuestas) consistía en las relaciones con los alumnos. En un segundo momento surgían las cuestiones relacionadas con la enseñanza. El foco específico del análisis sobre “la relación entre el conocimiento de la asignatura y las formas de seleccionar los contenidos para enseñar” se observó la coherencia entre ambos; además en las entrevistas destacaron (en un 100%) la excelente formación académica recibida, lo que les facilita la formulación de objetivos. Un problema recurrente que se detectó y se manifestó como un obstáculo difícil de solucionar es la confección de las planificaciones y secuencias didácticas, porque cada institución educativa establece disposiciones precisas que difieren de un establecimiento a otro, a pesar de las directivas del ministerio público provincial. En cuanto a las estrategias didácticas¸ se observó la preocupación de los novatos por implementar innovaciones en las clases con el uso de TIC, aunque con limitaciones.The results of a research oriented towards the analysis of professional practice are synthesized, in terms of the knowledge of the discipline and the ways of selecting the contents and strategies for teaching, which are handled by beginning teachers. From the observations and the teaching narratives it was detected that the first problematic that worries the beginners (in a 100% of the surveys) consisted in the relations with the students. In a second moment issues related to teaching arose. The specific focus of the analysis on "the relation between the knowledge of the subject and the ways of selecting the contents to teach" was observed the coherence between both. In addition, in the interviews they highlighted (100%) the excellent academic training received, which facilitates the formulation of objectives. A recurrent problem that was detected and manifested as a difficult obstacle to solve is the preparation of didactic plans and sequences, because each educational institution establishes precise provisions that differ from one establishment to another, despite the directives of the provincial public prosecutor. Regarding didactic strategies, it was observed the concern of the novices to implement innovations in the classes with the use of ICT, although with limitations.Dossier: Formación y prácticas docentesFacultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la EducaciónUniversidad Nacional del Litora

Quantifiers for randomness of chaotic pseudo random number generators

We deal with randomness quantifiers and concentrate on their ability to discern the hallmark of chaos in time series used in connection with pseudo-random number generators (PRNGs). Workers in the field are motivated to use chaotic maps for generating PRNGs because of the simplicity of their implementation. Although there exist very efficient general-purpose benchmarks for testing PRNGs, we feel that the analysis provided here sheds additional didactic light on the importance of the main statistical characteristics of a chaotic map, namely (i) its invariant measure and (ii) the mixing constant. This is of help in answering two questions that arise in applications: (i) which is the best PRNG among the available ones? and (ii) if a given PRNG turns out not to be good enough and a randomization procedure must still be applied to it, which is the best applicable randomization procedure? Our answer provides a comparative analysis of several quantifiers advanced in the extant literature.Instituto de Física La Plat

A method to discern complexity in two-dimensional patterns generated by coupled map lattices

Complex patterns generated by the time evolution of a one-dimensional digitalized coupled map lattice are quantitatively analyzed. A method for discerning complexity among the different patterns is implemented. The quantitative results indicate two zones in parameter space where the dynamics shows the most complex patterns. These zones are located on the two edges of an absorbent region where the system displays spatio-temporal intermittency.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures; some information about the authors: http://add.unizar.es/public/100_16613/index.htm

Is there association between temporomandibular dysfunctions, sleep quality, parafunctional habits, anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis? - Pilot study

 Abstract: There is a high prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and these factors associated with psychotropic medications can lead to temporomandibular disorders (TMD). However, the association between these variables and TMD is still unclear. Objective: To associate TMD with anxiety, depression, stress, sleep quality, use of psychotropic drugs and parafunctional habits (PH) in patients with CKD undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Methods: Cross-sectional study, approved by CEP (CAAE: 63054822.5.0000.5350) carried out with 28 patients. Patients with scores greater than 19 points on the Mini Mental State Examination questionnaire and at least one positive response on the American Academy of Orofacial Pain TMD screening questionnaire and who underwent hemodialysis for more than 3 months were included. Those who were in isolation or hospitalized at the time of data collection were excluded. After analyzing the screening results, the patients were submitted to the research protocol, which consisted of the following instruments: application of the questionnaire to collect clinical and sociodemographic data; Fonseca anamnestic index;  Parafunctional Habits (PFH) assessment questionnaire; Hamilton Anxiety Scale – HAM and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index – PSQI. Results: It was found that 60.71% of the patients had some degree of TMD and 92.86% had PH, the most cited being the habit of chewing gum/candy and sleeping on one side. Still, 82.17% of the patients slept more than 6 hours a day, even though they did not have a good quality of sleep. 42.8% of patients reported the presence of depression and 42.85% used psychotropic medications. TMD had a statistically significant association with the PFH of waking bruxism, resting the hand on the jaw, chewing on one side only and biting the nails and with the use of antidepressant medication. Conclusion: Most patients with CKD on hemodialysis have TMD and there is a statistically significant association of TMD degrees with the PFH of grinding teeth awake, clenching teeth awake, resting the hand on the jaw, biting nails and chewing on one side alone and with the use of antidepressant medication. This is an indication that TMD should be evaluated and treated in these patients with the potential to improve their quality of life

Quantifiers for randomness of chaotic pseudo random number generators

We deal with randomness quantifiers and concentrate on their ability to discern the hallmark of chaos in time series used in connection with pseudo-random number generators (PRNGs). Workers in the field are motivated to use chaotic maps for generating PRNGs because of the simplicity of their implementation. Although there exist very efficient general-purpose benchmarks for testing PRNGs, we feel that the analysis provided here sheds additional didactic light on the importance of the main statistical characteristics of a chaotic map, namely (i) its invariant measure and (ii) the mixing constant. This is of help in answering two questions that arise in applications: (i) which is the best PRNG among the available ones? and (ii) if a given PRNG turns out not to be good enough and a randomization procedure must still be applied to it, which is the best applicable randomization procedure? Our answer provides a comparative analysis of several quantifiers advanced in the extant literature.Instituto de Física La Plat