A scale to measure educators’ musical skills in early childhood education

Evaluating skills of students training to become teachers in early childhood education (ECE) is a key measure to improve their training and, subsequently, to bring about improvements in the way they train their pupils. No research literature specifically describing a scale designed to measure educators’ musical skills at the ECE level has been previously published. In view of this lack, we carried out the customary procedures for designing and validating a psychological measurement scale: on the basis of a sample of university students (n = 209), we created a valid, reliable tool that allows researchers to evaluate and quantify how teacher trainees perceive their own musical skills. By applying EFA, Parallel Analysis, and CFA, we observed the emergence of four differentiated categories distributed along 25 items in the questionnaire''s final version. To improve and refine this tool, further research and study replication in a series of different educational contexts would be required. © 2021 The Author(s

La autoeficacia creativa y la autoestima como predictores de la capacidad creativa en estudiantes universitarios

La capacidad creativa es independiente y propia de cada persona, pudiendo esta capacidad educarse. Sobre todo, en las áreas artísticas, el desarrollo de la creatividad puede considerarse importante para la adquisición y mantenimiento de nuevos aprendizajes. En los estudiantes, mayores o menores niveles de creatividad están relacionados con determinadas variables de corte competencial. Con este estudio se pretende comprobar las relaciones existentes entre los constructos de la creatividad y de autoeficacia creativa con variables de corte personal como la autoeficacia general, autoestima o ansiedad. La muestra está compuesta por un grupo de estudiantes de Magisterio que cursan la asignatura obligatoria Fundamentos de Educación Musical. Los participantes han cumplimentado diferentes cuestionarios específicos; se ha utilizado una metodología cuantitativa, realizando análisis correlacionales y de regresión. La creatividad está asociada a todas las variables planteadas y solo existen diferencias de medias significativas en función del sexo en una de ellas. Como principal conclusión se debe destacar que hay un valor explicativo en el que está relacionada tanto la autoestima como la ansiedad con la creatividad de estos estudiantes. Creative ability is independent, varies according to the person and can be learned. Especially, in the artistic fields, the development of creativity can be considered important for the acquisition and maintenance of new learning. In students, higher or lower levels of creativity are related to certain variables with respect to competencies. This study aims to verify the relationships between the constructs of creativity and creative self-efficacy and personal variables such as general self-efficacy, self-esteem or anxiety. The sample consists of a group of University Students enrolled in the compulsory course Fundamentals of Music Education. Participants completed different questionnaires; a quantitative methodology was used, performing correlational and regression analyses. Creativity is associated with all the variables considered and there are only significant differences in the means based on the sex of the participants in one of them. The most notable conclusion is that there is an explanatory value in which both self-esteem and anxiety are related to the creativity of these students

Emotional intelligence and mindfulness: relation and enhancement in the classroom with adolescents

Emotional intelligence (EI) and mindfulness are two constructs that have been separately studied, and the relation between them still remains unclear. Research in this area has not attempted to go further into how enhancing EI and mindfulness together can achieve better improvements in this ability to attend mindfully. To bridge this knowledge gap, our research goal was to study the relationship between EI and the mindfulness competence in our study sample and to assess the impact of implementing EI and a mindfulness competence developmental program (SEA) about participants’ mindfulness competence. The sample consisted of 156 students aged 11–14 years old from a Spanish public high school. One hundred and eight participants were randomly assigned to the experimental condition, and the remaining 48 were to the control condition. The instruments used to evaluate EI were the CDE-SEC, EQi-Youth Version and the General Empathy Scale. Mindfulness on the School Scope Scale was used to assess mindfulness competences. Social adaptation was evaluated by using the social abilities and adjustment questionnaire BAS3. All the instruments where answered by the participants and have been adapted to a sample of youths with such age specifications. The results showed that EI and mindfulness were related to many of the variables measured by the instruments. Showing a good mindfulness competence was particularly related to having a good general level of the EI trait, and to many of the assessed social and emotional variables. The data indicated a significant relation between the mindfulness competence and having better general empathy skills or being better socially adjusted to the school context. The data also indicated a significant effect on participants’ interior and kinesthetic mindfulness competence after implementing the SEA Program. These findings corroborate the relationship between EI and mindfulness, and the possibility of enhancing mindfulness by applying a direct intervention program in the classroom

Endocardial Approach for Substrate Ablation in Brugada Syndrome

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in Brugada syndrome (BrS) has been performed by both endocardial and epicardial. The substrate in BrS is not completely understood. We investigate the functional endocardial substrate and its correlation with clinical, electrophysiological and ECG findings in order to guide an endocardial ablation. Two patients agreed to undergo an endocardial biopsy and the samples were examined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to investigate the correlation between functional and ultrastructural alterations. About 13 patients (38.7 ± 12.3 years old) with spontaneous type 1 ECG BrS pattern, inducible VF with programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS) and syncope without prodromes were enrolled. Before endocardial mapping, the patients underwent flecainide testing with the purpose of measuring the greatest ST-segment elevation for to be correlated with the size and location of substrate in the electro-anatomic map. Patients underwent endocardial bipolar and electro-anatomic mapping with the purpose of identify areas of abnormal electrograms (EGMs) as target for RFA and determine the location and size of the substrate. When the greatest ST-segment elevation was in the third intercostal space (ICS), the substrate was located upper in the longitudinal plane of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and a greatest ST-segment elevation in fourth ICS correspond with a location of substrate in lower region of longitudinal plane of RVOT. A QRS complex widening on its initial and final part, with prolonged transmural and regional depolarization time of RVOT corresponded to the substrate located in the anterior-lateral region of RVOT. A QRS complex widening rightwards and only prolonged transmural depolarization time corresponded with a substrate located in the anterior, anterior-septal or septal region of RVOT. RFA of endocardial substrate suppressed the inducibility and ECG BrS pattern during 34.7 ± 15.5 months. After RFA, flecainide testing confirmed elimination of the ECG BrS pattern. Endocardial biopsy showed a correlation between functional and ultrastructural alterations. Endocardial RFA can eliminate the BrS phenotype and inducibility during programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS)

Allatotropin: an ancestral myotropic neuropeptide involved in feeding

Background: Cell-cell interactions are a basic principle for the organization of tissues and organs allowing them to perform integrated functions and to organize themselves spatially and temporally. Peptidic molecules secreted by neurons and epithelial cells play fundamental roles in cell-cell interactions, acting as local neuromodulators, neurohormones, as well as endocrine and paracrine messengers. Allatotropin (AT) is a neuropeptide originally described as a regulator of Juvenile Hormone synthesis, which plays multiple neural, endocrine and myoactive roles in insects and other organisms. Methods: A combination of immunohistochemistry using AT-antibodies and AT-Qdot nanocrystal conjugates was used to identify immunoreactive nerve cells containing the peptide and epithelial-muscular cells targeted by AT in Hydra plagiodesmica. Physiological assays using AT and AT- antibodies revealed that while AT stimulated the extrusion of the hypostome in a dose-response fashion in starved hydroids, the activity of hypostome in hydroids challenged with food was blocked by treatments with different doses of AT-antibodies. Conclusions: AT antibodies immunolabeled nerve cells in the stalk, pedal disc, tentacles and hypostome. AT-Qdot conjugates recognized epithelial-muscular cell in the same tissues, suggesting the existence of anatomical and functional relationships between these two cell populations. Physiological assays indicated that the AT-like peptide is facilitating food ingestion. Significance: Immunochemical, physiological and bioinformatics evidence advocates that AT is an ancestral neuropeptide involved in myoregulatory activities associated with meal ingestion and digestion.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

La agroecología como medio para la instrumentalización de la extensión universitaria

En un contexto de cambios, este trabajo pretende acercar algunas reflexiones sobre la instrumentalización de la Extensión Universitaria, abordada desde el paradigma de la Agroecología. La experiencia inicia en el 2013 y finaliza en el 2014. Se trabajó en dos ámbitos de actuación: -la comunidad universitaria, conformada por estudiantes, docentes y egresados de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, U.N.Cuyo y -la comunidad rural, conformada por una organización de la Agricultura Familiar de Mendoza, Argentina. Entre los resultados más destacados podemos mencionar que: la agroecología funcionó como herramienta para el fortalecimiento y valorización de la extensión universitaria; se generó vínculos comprometidos entre la comunidad universitaria y organizaciones rurales; las organizaciones rurales se acercaron al conocimiento formal y desmitificaron la metodología verticalista, que le atribuían a la universidad. Es una contundente conclusión que la mirada agroecológica jerarquiza y propone a la Extensión como herramienta constructora de conocimientos.Eje: B6 Desarrollo rural, movimientos sociales, Estado y agroecología (Relatos de experiencias)Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

La agroecología como medio para la instrumentalización de la extensión universitaria

En un contexto de cambios, este trabajo pretende acercar algunas reflexiones sobre la instrumentalización de la Extensión Universitaria, abordada desde el paradigma de la Agroecología. La experiencia inicia en el 2013 y finaliza en el 2014. Se trabajó en dos ámbitos de actuación: -la comunidad universitaria, conformada por estudiantes, docentes y egresados de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, U.N.Cuyo y -la comunidad rural, conformada por una organización de la Agricultura Familiar de Mendoza, Argentina. Entre los resultados más destacados podemos mencionar que: la agroecología funcionó como herramienta para el fortalecimiento y valorización de la extensión universitaria; se generó vínculos comprometidos entre la comunidad universitaria y organizaciones rurales; las organizaciones rurales se acercaron al conocimiento formal y desmitificaron la metodología verticalista, que le atribuían a la universidad. Es una contundente conclusión que la mirada agroecológica jerarquiza y propone a la Extensión como herramienta constructora de conocimientos.Eje: B6 Desarrollo rural, movimientos sociales, Estado y agroecología (Relatos de experiencias)Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

La agroecología como medio para la instrumentalización de la extensión universitaria

En un contexto de cambios, este trabajo pretende acercar algunas reflexiones sobre la instrumentalización de la Extensión Universitaria, abordada desde el paradigma de la Agroecología. La experiencia inicia en el 2013 y finaliza en el 2014. Se trabajó en dos ámbitos de actuación: -la comunidad universitaria, conformada por estudiantes, docentes y egresados de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, U.N.Cuyo y -la comunidad rural, conformada por una organización de la Agricultura Familiar de Mendoza, Argentina. Entre los resultados más destacados podemos mencionar que: la agroecología funcionó como herramienta para el fortalecimiento y valorización de la extensión universitaria; se generó vínculos comprometidos entre la comunidad universitaria y organizaciones rurales; las organizaciones rurales se acercaron al conocimiento formal y desmitificaron la metodología verticalista, que le atribuían a la universidad. Es una contundente conclusión que la mirada agroecológica jerarquiza y propone a la Extensión como herramienta constructora de conocimientos.Eje: B6 Desarrollo rural, movimientos sociales, Estado y agroecología (Relatos de experiencias)Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Unravelling the evolution of the Allatostatin-Type A, KISS and Galanin Peptide-Receptor gene families in Bilaterians: insights from Anopheles Mosquitoes

Allatostatin type A receptors (AST-ARs) are a group of G-protein coupled receptors activated by members of the FGL-amide (AST-A) peptide family that inhibit food intake and development in arthropods. Despite their physiological importance the evolution of the AST-A system is poorly described and relatively few receptors have been isolated and functionally characterised in insects. The present study provides a comprehensive analysis of the origin and comparative evolution of the AST-A system. To determine how evolution and feeding modified the function of AST-AR the duplicate receptors in Anopheles mosquitoes, were characterised. Phylogeny and gene synteny suggested that invertebrate AST-A receptors and peptide genes shared a common evolutionary origin with KISS/GAL receptors and ligands. AST-ARs and KISSR emerged from a common gene ancestor after the divergence of GALRs in the bilaterian genome. In arthropods, the AST-A system evolved through lineage-specific events and the maintenance of two receptors in the flies and mosquitoes (Diptera) was the result of a gene duplication event. Speciation of Anophelesmosquitoes affected receptor gene organisation and characterisation of AST-AR duplicates (GPRALS1 and 2) revealed that in common with other insects, the mosquito receptors were activated by insect AST-A peptides and the iCa(2+)-signalling pathway was stimulated. GPRALS1 and 2 were expressed mainly in mosquito midgut and ovaries and transcript abundance of both receptors was modified by feeding. A blood meal strongly up-regulated expression of both GPRALS in the midgut (p < 0.05) compared to glucose fed females. Based on the results we hypothesise that the AST-A system in insects shared a common origin with the vertebrate KISS system and may also share a common function as an integrator of metabolism and reproduction. Highlights: AST-A and KISS/GAL receptors and ligands shared common ancestry prior to the protostome-deuterostome divergence. Phylogeny and gene synteny revealed that AST-AR and KISSR emerged after GALR gene divergence. AST-AR genes were present in the hemichordates but were lost from the chordates. In protostomes, AST-ARs persisted and evolved through lineage-specific events and duplicated in the arthropod radiation. Diptera acquired and maintained functionally divergent duplicate AST-AR genes.Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal (FCT) [PTDC/BIA-BCM/114395/2009]; European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) COMPETE - Operational Competitiveness Programme; Portuguese funds through FCT Foundation for Science and Technology [PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2013, UID/Multi/04326/2013, PEst-OE/SAU/LA0018/2013]; FCT [SFRH/BPD/89811/2012, SFRH/BPD/80447/2011, SFRH/BPD/66742/2009]; auxiliary research contract FCT Pluriannual funds [PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2013, UID/Multi/04326/2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, ventilation management, and outcomes in invasively ventilated intensive care unit patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome: a pooled analysis of four observational studies

Background: Geoeconomic variations in epidemiology, the practice of ventilation, and outcome in invasively ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remain unexplored. In this analysis we aim to address these gaps using individual patient data of four large observational studies. Methods: In this pooled analysis we harmonised individual patient data from the ERICC, LUNG SAFE, PRoVENT, and PRoVENT-iMiC prospective observational studies, which were conducted from June, 2011, to December, 2018, in 534 ICUs in 54 countries. We used the 2016 World Bank classification to define two geoeconomic regions: middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs). ARDS was defined according to the Berlin criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to compare patients in MICs versus HICs. The primary outcome was the use of low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) for the first 3 days of mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes were key ventilation parameters (tidal volume size, positive end-expiratory pressure, fraction of inspired oxygen, peak pressure, plateau pressure, driving pressure, and respiratory rate), patient characteristics, the risk for and actual development of acute respiratory distress syndrome after the first day of ventilation, duration of ventilation, ICU length of stay, and ICU mortality. Findings: Of the 7608 patients included in the original studies, this analysis included 3852 patients without ARDS, of whom 2345 were from MICs and 1507 were from HICs. Patients in MICs were younger, shorter and with a slightly lower body-mass index, more often had diabetes and active cancer, but less often chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure than patients from HICs. Sequential organ failure assessment scores were similar in MICs and HICs. Use of LTVV in MICs and HICs was comparable (42\ub74% vs 44\ub72%; absolute difference \u20131\ub769 [\u20139\ub758 to 6\ub711] p=0\ub767; data available in 3174 [82%] of 3852 patients). The median applied positive end expiratory pressure was lower in MICs than in HICs (5 [IQR 5\u20138] vs 6 [5\u20138] cm H2O; p=0\ub70011). ICU mortality was higher in MICs than in HICs (30\ub75% vs 19\ub79%; p=0\ub70004; adjusted effect 16\ub741% [95% CI 9\ub752\u201323\ub752]; p&lt;0\ub70001) and was inversely associated with gross domestic product (adjusted odds ratio for a US$10 000 increase per capita 0\ub780 [95% CI 0\ub775\u20130\ub786]; p&lt;0\ub70001). Interpretation: Despite similar disease severity and ventilation management, ICU mortality in patients without ARDS is higher in MICs than in HICs, with a strong association with country-level economic status. Funding: No funding