Changes That Should Remain in Higher Education Post COVID-19: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of the Experiences at Three Universities

Objectives: The goal of the present study is to describe how the transition to remote emergency delivery was addressed in three universities during the COVID-19 pandemic, to determine the satisfaction levels of their students and faculty with this new teaching-learning experience, and to gather their opinions about the future of higher education. Method: The study uses a mixed-methods approach, including faculty and student surveys and focus groups Results: The study shows high satisfaction with the emergency remote delivery and clearly reflects the relevance of enhancing the digital components of future learning experiences in higher education and a unanimous preference for hybrid education. Participants provide recommendations to institutions regarding what students and faculty would like to keep for a more effective learning experience when the new normal comes. Conclusions: COVID-19 has had terrible consequences; however, the pandemic has brought along some positive effects and improvement opportunities in higher education, and, if the results of the present study are any indication, the future of face-to-face higher education should be hybrid. Implication for Theory and/or Practice: The study results can provide recommendations and inform decision-making by institutional leaders and policy makers regarding the necessary enhancement of the digital component of the teaching and learning process in higher education

Curcumin Hybrid Lipid Polymeric Nanoparticles: Antioxidant Activity, Immune Cellular Response, and Cytotoxicity Evaluation.

Poor solubility and short biological half-life present a challenge that needs to be overcome in order to improve the recognized bioactivities of curcumin (CUR), the main phenolic compounds derived from the roots of Curcuma longa. However, drug delivery systems have proven to be an excellent strategy to improve and obtain greater bioavailability. Our previous studies on curcuminoid hybrid nanoparticles have shown promising results by significantly increasing the solubility of desmethoxycurcumin (DMC) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDM). In this contribution, we performed a detailed characterization of a CUR as well as in vitro and in vivo studies. The developed method produced CUR loaded nanoparticles with an average size of 49.46 ± 0.80. Moreover, the FT-IR analysis confirmed the encapsulation, and TEM images showed their spherical shape. The NP achieved an encapsulation efficiency greater than 99%. Further, the release studies found that the NPs obtained a significantly higher release than the pure compounds in water. In vivo delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) studies showed promising results by enhancing the immune activity response of CUR in NP compared to bulk CUR. Furthermore, we report a significant increase in antioxidant activity for CUR-NP in aqueous solution compared to free CUR. Finally, an important in vitro cytotoxic effect on gastric AGS and colon SW620 adenocarcinoma cell lines was found for CUR-NP while empty carrier nanoparticles are observed to exhibit low cytotoxicity, indicating the potential of these CUR-PLU NPs for further studies to assess their phytotherapeutic applications.National Laboratory of Nanotechnology (LANOTEC).Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación, Tecnología y Telecomunicaciones (MICITT)Universidad de Costa Rica/[115-C0-001]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[115-C1-515]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Medicina::Escuela de MedicinaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de QuímicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Farmaci

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Affective interpersonal touch in close relationships: a cross-cultural perspective

Interpersonal touch behavior differs across cultures, yet no study to date has systematically tested for cultural variation in affective touch, nor examined the factors that might account for this variability. Here, over 14,000 individuals from 45 countries were asked whether they embraced, stroked, kissed, or hugged their partner, friends, and youngest child during the week preceding the study. We then examined a range of hypothesized individual-level factors (sex, age, parasitic history, conservatism, religiosity, and preferred interpersonal distance) and cultural-level factors (regional temperature, parasite stress, regional conservatism, collectivism, and religiosity) in predicting these affective-touching behaviors. Our results indicate that affective touch was most prevalent in relationships with partners and children, and its diversity was relatively higher in warmer, less conservative, and religious countries, and among younger, female, and liberal people. This research allows for a broad and integrated view of the bases of cross-cultural variability in affective touch

Caracterización de los sistemas de captación de agua de los cantones de Hojancha y Nicoya, en Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Capítulo 2 del libro digital: Clima, agua y producción sostenible: Aportes desde la acción académica CEMEDE - HIDROCECEn esta investigación se caracterizaron los sistemas de captación de agua en los cantones de Hojancha y Nicoya, en Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Específicamente, se documentaron las razones que incentivaron a los agricultores a construir estos sistemas. Adicionalmente, se analizó la percepción de los agricultores acerca del estado actual del funcionamiento de estos sistemas, así como, de los beneficios obtenidos durante los meses de aridez estacional. La información fue obtenida por medio de visitas a las fincas, registrando la ubicación espacial de los sistemas, tomando fotografías del estado actual de la infraestructura de los sistemas. Además, se utilizaron encuestas que fueron aplicadas en finca, a los once dueños de sistemas de captación de agua. El diseño colaborativo de la metodología, así como el trabajo de campo, la transcripción de las encuestas y el análisis de la información fue realizada por los estudiantes y académicos de la Universidad Nacional (UNA). Los productores encuestados establecieron que el principal beneficio de los sistemas de captación es que pueden proporcionar el agua necesaria para desarrollar actividades agropecuarias durante la aridez estacional (seis meses). Esta es la temporada más difícil para el desarrollo de la ganadería y la agricultura en estos cantones. Los sistemas de captación de agua les permiten adaptarse a los problemas de escasez hídrica que se han agravado en los últimos diez años. A partir del análisis de los resultados, se identificaron oportunidades para mejorar el diseño técnico de los sistemas, así como, la necesidad de continuar investigando, a fin de, evaluar la eficiencia de la tecnología y las implicaciones de implementar los sistemas de captación de agua, para solventar la disponibilidad hídrica en la región.Centro Mesoamericano de Desarrollo Sostenible del Trópico Seco (CEMEDE-UNA)Universidad Nacional, Costa RicaUniversidad Nacional, Sede Regional Chorotega, Costa RicaCentro Mesoamericano de Desarrollo Sostenible del Trópico Seco (CEMEDE-UNA

100 Cartas para Paulo Freire de quienes pretendemos Enseñar

Realizar un texto colectivo como “100 Cartas para Paule Freire de quienes pretendemos Enseñar”, es un desafío al reunir el aprehender desde el sentido profesional de la educación y con el espíritu de transformación, desde la educación como un espacio endógeno de revolución y exógeno a las comunidades y sociedades, en busca de un sentido de identidad. Hoy desde una crítica decolonial, antirracista, feminista y ecologica en la construcción de un sentido real que busque enfrentar el sistema hegemónico y destructivo que se ha impuesto con explotación, sangre y libertades de nuestro pueblo

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field

Erratum to: Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition) (Autophagy, 12, 1, 1-222, 10.1080/15548627.2015.1100356

non present