Is it possible to apply inquiry in the first level of primary school without hindering the acquisition of scientific competencies? Perspectives of pupils and their pre-service teacher

Producción CientíficaThe aim of this study is to assess the application of inquiry as a teaching strategy during the practicum of a pre-service teacher and to verify the acquisition of scientific skills by her students. The importance of this study is the application of inquiry as a teaching strategy at lower levels of basic education to contribute to scientific skills and scientific literacy. The sample consisted of 27 pupils in the first level of primary education and one pre-service teacher in a Spanish school. The methodology used was a case study with a participatory experimental design, incorporating guided discovery and teacher questioning focused on plant growth. The results indicate that the pupils improved their understanding and assimilation of content related to plant functions, scientific procedures, and critical thinking. The pre-service teacher demonstrated mastery of the inquiry-based methodology, confirming an adequate level of both pedagogical and scientific competence. Some suggestions are provided to enhance her training. The study concludes by demonstrating that it is possible to implement inquiry at any educational level, despite the potential limitations of the students. It is recommended that pre-service teachers receive comprehensive training to enable them to facilitate the acquisition of scientific competence among their students.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad - (project EDU2017-89405- R

Factores que influyen en las actitudes hacia la ciencia del alumnado de sexto curso de Educación Primaria: Factors influencing attitudes toward science among sixth-grade Primary Education students

This study addresses attitudes toward science and the influencing factors on it among a sample of 303 Spanish sixth-grade students in Primary Education. A pre-existing questionnaire is utilized, with its reliability and validity being evaluated. Findings prove the psychometric reliability and validity of the tool, composed of three dimensions and 10 items. Two variables are identified as determinants of attitudes: the ownership and the bilingual teaching modality that conditions the language in which science subjects are taught. Students from public schools and those belonging to the Ministry of Education and Professional Training Agreement with the British Council have shown more positive attitudes towards science. On the other hand, students display favourable attitudes towards science, except in aspects related to an interest in a scientific career.Este estudio aborda las actitudes hacia la ciencia y los factores que influyen en ella en una muestra de 303 estudiantes españoles de sexto curso de Educación Primaria. Se utiliza un cuestionario preexistente cuya confiabilidad y validez se evalúan. Los hallazgos demuestran la fiabilidad y validez psicométrica de la herramienta constituida por tres dimensiones y 10 ítems y se identifican dos variables como determinantes de las actitudes: la titularidad y la modalidad de enseñanza bilingüe que condiciona la lengua en la que se imparten las asignaturas de ciencias. El alumnado de centros públicos y de aquellos pertenecientes al Convenio Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional con el British Council han presentado mejores actitudes hacia la ciencia. Por otro lado, el alumnado muestra actitudes favorables hacia la ciencia en su conjunto, exceptuando aspectos relacionados con el interés por una carrera científica. Palabras clave: actitudes hacia la ciencia; Educación Primaria; enseñanza bilingüe.   Abstract This study addresses attitudes toward science and the influencing factors on it among a sample of 303 Spanish sixth-grade students in Primary Education. A pre-existing questionnaire is used, with its reliability and validity being evaluated. Findings prove the psychometric reliability and validity of the tool, composed of three dimensions and 10 items. Two variables are identified as determinants of attitudes: ownership and the bilingual teaching modality that conditions the language in which science subjects are taught. Students from public schools and those belonging to the Ministry of Education and Professional Training Agreement with the British Council have shown more positive attitudes towards science. On the other hand, students display favourable attitudes towards science, except in aspects related to an interest in a scientific career. Keywords: attitudes towards science; Primary Education; Bilingual Education.     

Chemoreception in the context of the general biology of ROS

Producción CientíficaSuperoxide anion is the most important reactive oxygen species (ROS) primarily generated in cells. The main cellular constituents with capabilities to generate superoxide anion areNADPHoxidases and mitochondrial respiratory chain. The emphasis of our article is centered in critically examining hypotheses proposing that ROS generated by NADPH oxidase and mitochondria are key elements in O2-sensing and hypoxic responses generation in carotid body chemoreceptor cells. Available data indicate that chemoreceptor cells express a specific isoform of NADPH oxidase that is activated by hypoxia; generated ROS acting as negative modulators of the carotid body (CB) hypoxic responses. Literature is also consistent in supporting that poisoned respiratory chain can produce high amounts of ROS, making mitochondrial ROS potential triggers-modulators of the CB activation elicited by mitochondrial venoms. However, most data favour the notion that levels of hypoxia, capable of strongly activating chemoreceptor cells, would not increase the rate of ROS production in mitochondria, making mitochondrial ROS unlikely triggers of hypoxic responses in the CB. Finally, we review recent literature on heme oxygenases from two perspectives, as potential O2-sensors in chemoreceptor cells and as generators of bilirubin which is considered to be a ROS scavenger of major quantitative importance in mammalian cells

Peroxynitrite Stimulates L-Arginine Transport System y+ in Glial Cells A POTENTIAL MECHANISM FOR REPLENISHING NEURONAL L-ARGININE

Producción CientíficaWe have reported previously that peroxynitrite stimulates L-arginine release from astrocytes, but the mechanism responsible for such an effect remains elusive. To explore this issue, we studied the regulation of L-[3 H]arginine transport by either exogenous or endogenous peroxynitrite in glial cells. A 2-fold peroxynitritemediated stimulation of L-arginine release in C6 cells was found to be Na -independent, was prevented by 5 mM L-arginine and, although only in the presence of Na , was blocked by 5 mM L-alanine or L-leucine. Peroxynitrite-mediated stimulation of L-arginine uptake was trans-stimulated by 10 mM L-arginine and was inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion (ki of 40 M) by the system y inhibitor N-ethylmaleimide in C6 cells. Endogenous production of peroxynitrite in lipopolysaccharidetreated astrocytes triggered an increased L-arginine transport activity without affecting Cat1 L-arginine transporter mRNA levels. However, Western blot analyses of peroxynitrite-treated astrocytes and C6 glial cells revealed a 3-nitrotyrosinated anti-Cat1-immunopositive band, strongly suggesting peroxynitrite-mediated Cat1 nitration. Furthermore, peroxynitrite stimulation of Larginine release was abolished in fibroblast cells homozygous for a targeted inactivation of the Cat1 gene. Finally, peroxynitrite-triggered L-arginine released from astrocytes was efficiently taken up by neurons in an insert-based co-culture system. These results strongly suggest that peroxynitrite-mediated activation of the Cat1 transporter in glial cells may serve as a mechanism focused to replenish L-arginine in the neighboring neurons

Revista de bachillerato

Estudio en base a los conceptos de trabajo mecánico, energía y calor. Ello se debe a que se considera que la enseñanza de la Física tanto en el nuevo Bachillerato como en la EGB, exige una revisión de los métodos tradicionales de estudio si se quiere hacer verdaderamente eficiente. Es un problema que no afecta únicamente a esta disciplina, ya que es bastante habitual que la forma habitual de presentar conceptos fundamentales, dificulte enormemente su comprensión. En lo que se refiere a conceptos tan básicos en Física y aún en Ciencias en general, como los de trabajo, energía y calor, se realiza una crítica a la presentación o explicación clásica de los mismos, y se aporta un nuevo enfoque, basado en el concepto cualitativo y cuantitativo de energía. Por otro lado, se estudia la relación entre energía y movimiento, y el concepto de trabajo mecánico. Para terminar se reflexiona sobre la relación entre energía y temperatura y el concepto de calor, y se sistematizan una serie de conclusiones generales.MadridBiblioteca de Educación del Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte; Calle San Agustín, 5 - 3 Planta; 28014 Madrid; Tel. +34917748000; [email protected]

The effects of intermittent hypoxia on redox status, NF-κB activation, and plasma lipid levels are dependent on the lowest oxygen saturation

Producción Científicaduring sleep, causing concomitant episodes of systemic hypoxia and associated cardiovascular and metabolic pathologies. The mechanisms generating these pathologies are controversial. Because recurrent hypoxia is the element of inadequate respiration that leads to the pathology, experimental models of OSAS consist in the exposure of the animals to intermittent hypoxia (IH) by cycling O2 percentages in their habitats. A proposed mechanism linking the IH of OSAS to pathologies is the increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, it has been argued that many patients seem to lack oxidative stress and that, to augment ROS in IH animals, intense hypoxia, seldom encountered in patients, has to be applied. To solve the controversy, we have exposed rats to two intensities of IH (cycles of 10 or 5% O2, 40 s, and then 21% O2, 80 s; 8 h/day, 15 days). We then measured reduced and oxidized glutathione and lipid peroxide levels, aconitase and fumarase activities, and ROS-disposal enzyme activity in liver, brain, and lung. Liver levels of nuclear NF-κB-p65 and plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as lipid levels, were also assessed. Lowest hemoglobin saturations were 91.770.8 and 73.571.4%. IH caused tissue-specific oxidative stress related to hypoxic intensity. Nuclear NF-κB-p65 and lipid content in the liver and CRP in the plasma all increased with IH intensity, as did both plasma triglycerides and cholesterol. We conclude that IH, even of moderate intensity, causes oxidative stress probably related to the pathologies encountered in OSAS patients.Este trabajo fue financiado por Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Grants BFU2007-61848 to Constancio Gonzalez and SAF2011-22576 to Ramon Farre); the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Grant BFU2012-37459 to Constancio Gonzalez), and the Spanish Ministry of Health–Institute Carlos III (Grant CIBER CB06/06/0050 to Constancio Gonzalez and Ramón Farre)

Effects of cigarette smoke and chronic hypoxia on airways remodeling and resistance. Clinical significance

Previously we have reported that association of cigarette smoke (CS) and chronic hypoxia (CH) interact positively to physiopathologically remodel pulmonary circulation. In present study we have exposed guinea pigs to CS smoke (four cigarettes/day; 3 months; CS) and to chronic hypoxia (12% O2, 15 days; CH) alone or in combination (CSCH animals) and evaluated airways remodeling and resistance assessed as Penh (enhance pause). We measured Penh while animals breathe air, 10% O2 and 5% CO2 and found that CS and CH animals have higher Penh than controls; Penh was even larger in CSCH animals. A rough parallelism between Penh and thickness of bronchiolar wall and muscular layer and Goblet cell number was noticed. We conclude that CS and CH association accelerates CS-induced respiratory system damage, evidenced by augmented airway resistance, bronchial wall thickness and muscularization and Goblet cell number. Our findings would suggest that appearance of hypoxia would aggravate any preexisting pulmonary pathology by increasing airways resistance and reactivity. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.The work was supported by the “Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación of Spain”, [grant number BFU2007-61848], by the “Instituto Carlos III”, [grant number CIBER CB06/06/0050] and by “Fondo de Investigación de la Seguridad Social”, [grant number FIS 04/1424].Peer Reviewe

Revista de bachillerato

Se plantean diversas experiencias para ser realizadas en las clases de física de bachillerato, para un estudio simultáneo de los aspectos cinemáticos y dinámicos de los movimientos, como los movimientos circular uniforme y armónico simple. También se propone un método conjunto de estudio de movimientos rectilíneos.MadridBiblioteca de Educación del Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte; Calle San Agustín, 5 - 3 Planta; 28014 Madrid; Tel. +34917748000; [email protected]

The effects of intermittent hypoxia on redox status, NFkB activation, and plasma lipid levels is dependent on the lowest oxygen saturation

Resumen del póster presentado al Joint FEPS & XXXVI Spanish Physiological Society Congress (Sociedad Española de Ciencias Fisiológicas) celebrado en Santiago de Compostela (España) del 8 al 11 de septiembre de 2012.[Objectives]: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) refers to repetitive episodes of upper airways obstruction which occur during sleep time. OSA generates a cohort of cardiovascular, metabolic and neuropsychiatric pathologies to conform the obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). Since each obstruction produces a fall in PO2 and haemoglobin saturation, intermittent hypoxia (IH) and associated oxidative stress are proposed to be at the core of OSAS pathologies. Yet, some authors found that humans with OSAS and animals exposed to IH do not exhibit redox status alterations, consequently the oxidative stress-OSAS associated pathologies linkage is not universally accepted. Literature discrepancies could be due to: a) the heterogeneity on the level of lowest oxygen saturation, both in patients and IH animal models, and; b) the use of inadequate biomarkers of oxidative damage. In present work we have aimed to define if IH does indeed produce an oxidative status and its putative association with dislipaemias. [Materials]: We have used adult male Wistar rats subjected to IH of two intensities. Protocol for IH was: 10 or 5% O2, 40s/ 21% O2, 80s, 8h/day, 15 days. We measured reduced and oxidized glutathione and lipid peroxides levels, aconitase and fumarase activity ratios, and the glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and cytoplasmic and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase activities in several tissues, liver levels of nuclear NFkBp65, and plasma lipid levels. [Results]: Low and high IH intensity caused lowest oxygen saturations of 91.7 0.8 and 73.5 1.4%, respectively. Redox parameters indicate that IH generates a pro-oxidative status that reaches the level of frank oxidative stress with the most intense hypoxia. An additional finding is that oxidative damage is tissue specific. Nuclear NFkBp65 augments in parallel to IH intensity. [Conclusions]: Finally, IH caused an increase in plasma triglycerides and total cholesterol which are related to lowest oxygen saturation.Peer Reviewe

Moderate ethanol ingestion, redox status, and cardiovascular system in the rat

Producción CientíficaModerate intake of alcoholic beverages decreases the incidence of cardiovascular pathologies, but it is in dispute if cardioprotective effects are due to ethanol, to polyphenolic compounds present in beverages or to a combination of both. In humans, effects of high, moderate, and low doses of alcoholic beverages are widely studied, but effects of pure alcohol remain unclear. On the other hand, experiments with laboratory animals are centered on high toxicological doses of ethanol but not on low doses. In the present study, we have aimed to mimic in the rat the pattern of alcohol intake in Mediterranean population. Alcohol ingestion is spread along the day and not always related to solid food consumption. We tried to define the beneficial and harmful effects of pure ethanol ingestion without polyphenol’s influence. Experimental rats were given 1% ethanol in their drinking water for 30 days, resulting in a daily ingestion of 0.27 mL of ethanol/rat/d. Ethanol ingestion did not cause deleterious effects on the general status of the animals, but it decreased cholesterol, triglycerides, and catecholamine stores’ rate of utilization in peripheral sympathetic system. Moreover, ethanol lowered pulmonary arterial pressure and did not alter systemic arterial pressure. In the liver, the reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio was augmented and lipid peroxide, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were decreased. However, catalase activity was unaltered. Liver cytochrome P4502E1 distribution and protein level and activity were unchanged by ethanol ingestion. Data indicate a lack of harmful effects and underscore a set of potentially beneficial effects of this dose of ethanol.Este trabajo fue financiado por Grants BFU2007- 61848 (MEC, Spain), CIBER CB06/06/0050 (FISS-ICiii, Spain) and JCyL GR24