Coexistencia de medios, materiales didácticos y virtualidad en la educación a distancia: una preferencia de la población estudiantil en sus procesos de formación profesional

La UNED de Costa Rica al constituirse una universidad desde la modalidad a distancia, enfrenta como parte inherente a su naturaleza un reto: la diversidad que caracteriza a su población, no solo por la atención a los diferentes grupos etarios, sino también en su diversidad geográfica, particularidades, preferencias que conforman un perfil de la población estudiantil. Esto implica y compromete a la Universidad a indagar y acercarse a su población, intención que se hace posible al establecer un espacio institucional que facilite la interacción entre la universidad y los estudiantes, misión que llevan a cabo los Centros Universitarios (CEU) ubicados en las diferentes zonas del país. Aproximarse al perfil de la población desde la preferencia en cuanto a los medios y materiales didácticos, así como en lo referente a la modalidad (virtual, híbrido, regular) de la oferta, es prioridad para la institución, por lo que se llevó a cabo una investigación para cumplir con este propósito, en un CEU ubicado en la región Pacífico Central de Costa Rica. Como hallazgo destacado en esta investigación que justifica su presentación en esta ponencia, se identificó que la población estudiantil prefiere aquellas asignaturas que contemplen lo virtual y la coexistencia del tipo y formato de medios y materiales didácticos en su proceso de aprendizaje

Addressing Disparities in Access to Information for Hispanic Families of Children with Special Health Care Needs

Objectives: Utilizing a diffusion of innovation (DOI) framework, the study seeks to increase access to information for Hispanic families of children with special health care needs (SHCN) by increasing their use of Family-to-family Centers (F2Fs) in their states. Methods: Focus groups were implemented of both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking Hispanic families in two states with a confirming Delphi procedure exploring factors within DOI framework related to using F2Fs and the nature of current family communication networks. Results: Families seeking information at key change points turn to formal sources, although Spanish-speaking families, noted that due to language barriers, they also turned to family and friends. Families prefer getting information in one-on-one encounters rather than via technologies. F2Fs being staffed by parents of children with SHCN is a relative advantage over other sources of information and race or ethnicity of the staff was not an essential feature in using F2Fs, although services in Spanish was. Findings indicated that cultural values might impede turning outside the family for support and that concerns about federally funded programs serving all families or being suddenly cut impacted families views of using F2Fs. Conclusions: Increasing the use of F2Fs by Hispanic families will entail increasing awareness and acceptance of the centers by their social networks and by social marketing efforts that focus on factors identified. In addition, at the policy level, there needs to be a recognition of the strong preference for person-to-person support rather than technological approaches, which has fiscal implications

LA ASESORÍA DEL PROGRAMA DE APOYO CURRICULAR Y EVALUACIÓN DE LOS APRENDIZAJES (PACE) EN TORNO A LA EVALUACIÓN DE LOS APRENDIZAJES: ALCANCES Y RETOS DESDE LA PLANIFICACIÓN CURRICULAR INSTITUCIONAL. THE ADVICE AROUND THE LEARNING EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAMA

El Programa de Apoyo Curricular y Evaluación de los Aprendizajes (PACE) de la Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED) es la instancia que asesora a nivel institucional en el ámbito curricular. Como parte de la asesoría, este Programa considera la evaluación de los aprendizajes, tema prioritario en la educación a distancia y sobre el cual se centrará la presente sistematización.A la fecha, el personal de esta instancia hace esfuerzos sustantivos mediante la investigación de la temática, en aras de generar conocimientos para asesorar procesos y emitir criterios curriculares a las diversas solicitudes realizadas, así como elaborar documentos que apoyen la labor pedagógica en el ámbito mencionado, entre otros aspectos de importancia.Palabras claves: asesoría curricular, evaluación de los aprendizajes, diseño curricular, criterio curricular, producción académica.AbstractPrograma de Apoyo Curricular y Evaluación de los Aprendizajes (PACE) of the Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED), is the department in charge of the curriculum advisory at institutional level. As part of the advice that performs, it is considered the evaluation of learning a priority in distance education and the intention of this systematization will focus on that.To date this instance staff makes substantive efforts through research on the topic, in order to generate knowledge to advice processes, give curricular criteria to different requests, as well as the elaboration of documents that support the educational work in the area in mention, among other things of importance.Keywords: curriculum advisory, evaluation of learning, curriculum design, curricular criteria, academic production

Neural correlates of top-down guidance of attention to food: an fMRI study

We investigated the neural correlates of working memory guided attentional selection of food versus non-food stimuli in young women. Participants were thirty-two women, aged 20.6y (± 0.5) who were presented with a cue (food or non-food item) to hold in working memory. Subsequently, they had to search for a target in a 2-item display where target and distractor stimuli were each flanked by a picture of a food or a non-food item. The behavioural data showed that attention is particularly efficiently drawn to food stimuli when thinking about food. Using fMRI, we found that holding a non-food versus food stimulus in working memory was associated with increased activity in occipital gyrus, fusiform, inferior and superior frontal gyrus. In the posterior cingulum, retrosplenial cortex, a food item that re-appeared in the search array when it was held in memory led to a reduced response, compared to when it did not re-appear. The reverse effect was found for non-food stimuli. The extent of the reappearance effect correlated with the attentional capture of food as measured behaviourally. In conclusion, these results suggest that holding food in mind may bias attention because thinking of food facilitated neuronal responses to sensory input related to food stimuli and because holding food-related information in mind is less taxing on memory

Implementing an innovative consent form: the PREDICT experience

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the setting of coronary angiography, generic consent forms permit highly variable communication between patients and physicians. Even with the existence of multiple risk models, clinicians have been unable to readily access them and thus provide patients with vague estimations regarding risks of the procedure.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We created a web-based vehicle, PREDICT, for embedding patient-specific estimates of risk from validated multivariable models into individualized consent documents at the point-of-care. Beginning August 2006, outpatients undergoing coronary angiography at the Mid America Heart Institute received individualized consent documents generated by PREDICT. In February 2007 this approach was expanded to all patients undergoing coronary angiography within the four Kansas City hospitals of the Saint Luke's Health System. Qualitative research methods were used to identify the implementation challenges and successes with incorporating PREDICT-enhanced consent documents into routine clinical care from multiple perspectives: administration, information systems, nurses, physicians, and patients.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Most clinicians found usefulness in the tool (providing clarity and educational value for patients) and satisfaction with the altered processes of care, although a few cardiologists cited delayed patient flow and excessive patient questions. The responses from administration and patients were uniformly positive. The key barrier was related to informatics.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This preliminary experience suggests that successful change in clinical processes and organizational culture can be accomplished through multidisciplinary collaboration. A randomized trial of PREDICT consent, leveraging the accumulated knowledge from this first experience, is needed to further evaluate its impact on medical decision-making, patient compliance, and clinical outcomes.</p

Regulated Expression of CCL21 in the Prostate Tumor Microenvironment Inhibits Tumor Growth and Metastasis in an Orthotopic Model of Prostate Cancer

Currently there are no curative therapies available for patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Thus, novel therapies are needed to treat this patient population. Immunotherapy represents one promising approach for the elimination of occult metastatic tumors. However, the prostate tumor microenvironment (TME) represents a hostile environment capable of suppressing anti-tumor immunity and effector cell function. In view of this immunosuppressive activity, we engineered murine prostate cancer cells with regulated expression (tet-on) of CCL21. Prostate tumor cells implanted orthotopically produced primary prostate tumors with predictable metastatic disease in draining lymph nodes and distant organs. Expression of CCL21 in the prostate TME enhanced survival, inhibited tumor growth and decreased the frequency of local (draining lymph node) and distant metastasis. Therefore, these studies provide a strong rationale for further evaluation of CCL21 in tumor immunity and its use in cancer immunotherapy

VISTA Variables in the <i>Vía Láctea</i> (VVV): Halfway Status and Results

The VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) survey is one of six near-infrared ESO public surveys, and is now in its fourth year of observing. Although far from being complete, the VVV survey has already delivered many results, some directly connected to the intended science goals (detection of variable stars, microlensing events, new star clusters), others concerning more exotic objects, e.g., novae. Now, at the end of the fourth observing period, and comprising roughly 50% of the proposed observations, the status of the survey, as well some of results based on the VVV data, are presented.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica

Multi-trait analysis characterizes the genetics of thyroid function and identifies causal associations with clinical implications

To date only a fraction of the genetic footprint of thyroid function has been clarified. We report a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of thyroid function in up to 271,040 individuals of European ancestry, including reference range thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), free and total triiodothyronine (T3), proxies for metabolism (T3/FT4 ratio) as well as dichotomized high and low TSH levels. We revealed 259 independent significant associations for TSH (61% novel), 85 for FT4 (67% novel), and 62 novel signals for the T3 related traits. The loci explained 14.1%, 6.0%, 9.5% and 1.1% of the total variation in TSH, FT4, total T3 and free T3 concentrations, respectively. Genetic correlations indicate that TSH associated loci reflect the thyroid function determined by free T3, whereas the FT4 associations represent the thyroid hormone metabolism. Polygenic risk score and Mendelian randomization analyses showed the effects of genetically determined variation in thyroid function on various clinical outcomes, including cardiovascular risk factors and diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. In conclusion, our results improve the understanding of thyroid hormone physiology and highlight the pleiotropic effects of thyroid function on various diseases

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges