Movilidad y TIC en aprendizaje-servicio: perspectivas para una sociedad global y tecnológica

The current knowledge society is the germ of one of the deepest transformations in the university history, not only in social terms but also pedagogical. In this sense, global connections and internationalization are emerging as two of the aspects that have most affected the foundations of the university because both permeate all the processes that take place in it. If we add the rise of new methodologies like service-learning, in which the learning processes are combined with a service to the community, we are facing a real challenge due to the combination of both elements. In this article we analyze the possibilities of academic and pedagogical integration of service-learning in a technological and international projection. For this, we carried out a deep literature review in order to make an approach to both international service-learning and electronic learning-service. In addition to their similarities, we conclude that both hybridizations allow service-learning to respond to the pedagogical tendencies that have the greatest impact in a global context for higher education: international mobility and the irruption of technologies. However, the different forms of electronic service-learning seem more realistic and adjusted to the current situation than international service learning. This is especially accused in economic terms, since information and communication technologies allow to counteract the inconveniences that arise when a mobility component is introduced within a regulated training context.La actual sociedad del conocimiento es el germen de una de las transformaciones más profundas en la historia de la universidad, no sólo en términos sociales sino también pedagógicos. A este respecto, las conexiones en el plano global y la internacionalización se erigen como dos de los aspectos que más han afectado a los cimientos de la institución universitaria, impregnando todos los procesos que en ella tienen lugar. Si a esto añadimos el auge de nuevas metodologías, caso del aprendizaje-servicio (ApS), en la que los procesos de aprendizaje se combinan con un servicio a la comunidad; nos situamos ante un verdadero desafío por la conjunción de ambos elementos. En este artículo se analizan las posibilidades de integración académica y pedagógica del ApS con proyección tecnológica e internacional. Para ello, realizamos una revisión bibliográfica de alcance con el fin de aproximarnos tanto al aprendizaje-servicio internacional como al aprendizaje-servicio electrónico. Concluimos que, además de sus semejanzas, ambas hibridaciones permiten al aprendizaje-servicio dar respuesta a las tendencias pedagógicas que mayor impacto están teniendo en un contexto global para la educación superior: la movilidad internacional y la irrupción de las tecnologías. No obstante, las diferentes modalidades de ApS electrónico parecen más realistas y ajustadas a la situación actual que el aprendizaje-servicio internacional, especialmente en términos económicos, ya que las TIC permiten contrarrestar los inconvenientes que surgen cuando se introduce un componente de movilidad dentro de un contexto formativo reglado

The Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Caulerpin, a Bisindole Alkaloid Isolated from Seaweeds of the Genus Caulerpa

The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of caulerpin was investigated. This bisindole alkaloid was isolated from the lipoid extract of Caulerpa racemosa and its structure was identified by spectroscopic methods, including IR and NMR techniques. The pharmacological assays used were the writhing and the hot plate tests, the formalin-induced pain, the capsaicin-induced ear edema and the carrageenan-induced peritonitis. Caulerpin was given orally at a concentration of 100 μmol/kg. In the abdominal constriction test caulerpin showed reduction in the acetic acid-induced nociception at 0.0945 μmol (0.0103–1.0984) and for dypirone it was 0.0426 μmol (0.0092–0.1972). In the hot plate test in vivo the inhibition of nociception by caulerpin (100 μmol/kg, p.o.) was also favorable. This result suggests that this compound exhibits a central activity, without changing the motor activity (seen in the rotarod test). Caulerpin (100 μmol/kg, p.o.) reduced the formalin effects in both phases by 35.4% and 45.6%, respectively. The possible anti-inflammatory activity observed in the second phase in the formalin test of caulerpin (100 μmol/kg, p.o.) was confirmed on the capsaicin-induced ear edema model, where an inhibition of 55.8% was presented. Indeed, it was also observed in the carrageenan-induced peritonitis that caulerpin (100 μmol/kg, p.o.) exhibited anti-inflammatory activity, reducing significantly the number of recruit cells by 48.3%. Pharmacological studies are continuing in order to characterize the mechanism(s) responsible for the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory actions and also to identify other active principles present in Caulerpa racemosa

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Experiences of the pandemic among marginal older people in Switzerland and the U.S.

In many countries, political authorities have instituted measures to contain COVID-19 and especially to protect so-called ‘vulnerable’ groups. These strategies target older people, based on the consideration that the risk of dying from COVID-19 is especially high for them. Our research aims to explore how people aged 65 and over experience these measures and the fact of being labelled as vulnerable. Based on fieldwork taking place in the Swiss Alps and in different regions of the U.S., it focuses in particular on older people who were already facing social and economic precarity prior to the pandemic, and whose daily lives are now also shaped by their belonging to an ‘at risk’ group in the context of the COVID-19

What have we learned from the pandemic? ::a socio-technical case study on crisis management and its impact on work activities in a higher academic institution

The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on educational institutions. This paper presents the results of a multidisciplinary case study conducted at a university of applied sciences in Switzerland. The study aimed to understand how the pandemic affected the activities of different professions, how staff perceived the measures taken by senior management, what good practices were developed and what elements should be improved following this period of instability. The study was based on a multi-method qualitative design, combining documentary research, chronicle workshops, and semi-structured interviews. The paper focuses on three findings. First, we present a story of how the institution dealt with the pandemic. For each chapter of this story, we list the typical problems faced by managers and staff. Second, we show how different professionals were affected by the crisis and what new skills and practices they have developed. Finally, we analyse the impact of the pandemic using a socio-technical approach. The analysis of the focus groups led to the identification of 7 chapters and 18 typical situations. The pandemic affected main professions of the institution in very different ways. Within a few weeks, teachers had to switch to online teaching. They developed new skills and experimented with new pedagogical approaches. Administrative staff struggled with teleworking, which had not been widely practised in these professions. They were also faced with additional responsibilities, particularly related to managing the sanitary measures. The pandemic gave some of them greater autonomy and responsibility, at least temporarily. The use of online meetings quickly became the norm and is still very common today. Cleaning and technical staff were heavily involved in implementing hygiene measures and disinfecting premises. They were very active even though the premises were often empty, leading them to question the purpose of this activity. Finally, managers had to take responsibility for the health and safety of staff and students, as well as the continuity of teaching and other priority activities, in a complex, tense and everchanging context. The sharing of experience and skills between managers in different parts of the institution proved crucial. Finally, local managers played an important role in supporting their teams and maintaining social ties. Future studies could explore some of these issues in more depth. It would also be useful to compare case studies, in order to identify regularities and better understand which factors are important for the resilience of an academic institution

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data

Infective Endocarditis After Transcatheter Versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement

Abstract Background Scarce data are available comparing infective endocarditis (IE) following surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This study aimed to compare the clinical presentation, microbiological profile, management, and outcomes of IE after SAVR versus TAVR. Methods Data were collected from the “Infectious Endocarditis after TAVR International” (enrollment from 2005 to 2020) and the “International Collaboration on Endocarditis” (enrollment from 2000 to 2012) registries. Only patients with an IE affecting the aortic valve prosthesis were included. A 1:1 paired matching approach was used to compare patients with TAVR and SAVR. Results A total of 1688 patients were included. Of them, 602 (35.7%) had a surgical bioprosthesis (SB), 666 (39.5%) a mechanical prosthesis, 70 (4.2%) a homograft, and 350 (20.7%) a transcatheter heart valve. In the SAVR versus TAVR matched population, the rate of new moderate or severe aortic regurgitation was higher in the SB group (43.4% vs 13.5%; P < .001), and fewer vegetations were diagnosed in the SB group (62.5% vs 82%; P < .001). Patients with an SB had a higher rate of perivalvular extension (47.9% vs 27%; P < .001) and Staphylococcus aureus was less common in this group (13.4% vs 22%; P = .033). Despite a higher rate of surgery in patients with SB (44.4% vs 27.3%; P < .001), 1-year mortality was similar (SB: 46.5%; TAVR: 44.8%; log-rank P = .697). Conclusions Clinical presentation, type of causative microorganism, and treatment differed between patients with an IE located on SB compared with TAVR. Despite these differences, both groups exhibited high and similar mortality at 1-year follow-up