A gamified Experience for Motivating Students to Learn Literature

This paper describes a new teaching approach based on gamification with the following goals: to promote the learning of Spanish Literature to non-motivated third-year high school students and to provide teachers with an effective method based on game design techniques to teach Literature. A complete gamification experience has been developed to provide the most effective gamified learning experience able to awake the interest of the students in Literature, while assuring the knowledge retention of the concepts in higher grades. The experience was validated among a group of 20 students of 14-15 years-old with very interesting and promising conclusions: students’ and teacher’s motivation were increasing along the experience and the students’ final marks on the subject were 20% better that the same subject the year before

Estudio "Toledo" : valores de referencia y factores de riesgo lipoproteicos en "neonatos"

Tesis de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Farmacia, Departamento de Nutrición y Bromatología I (Nutrición), leída el 03-07-1992Con el objeto de obtener valores de referencias y de factores de riesgo lipoproteicos en poblaciones de neonatos españoles, se analizaron en sangre de cordón de 548 recién nacidos de la provincia de Toledo los niveles de colesterol glucosa total, triglicéridos, colesterol transportado por la hdl, vldl, ldl, apos ai y b y los cocientes de riesgo ct/hdl-c y apo al/apo b. Estos neonatos tenían unas características comunes y bien definidas: a término de parto eutócico, con presentación cefálica, con peso entre 2,500 kg y menos de 4,0 kg y con ausencia de sufrimiento fetal (apgar 1 y 2 (mayor igual) 7 y (mayor igual 9), respectivamente ). Las diferencias encontradas entre niños y niñas para parámetros lipoproteicos se hacen mas evidentes cuando se trata de neonatos hipercolesterolémicos. Dichos valores de referencia, juntos con los de otros estudios permitirán la construcción de tablas de valores de referencia y patológicos de poblaciones de neonatos españoles, las cuales hacen referencia a poblaciones foráneas con diferente etnia, con la incidencia negativa que esto supone sobre el metabolismo lipídicoFac. de FarmaciaTRUEpu

Estudio "Toledo" : valores de referencia y factores de riesgo lipoproteicos en "neonatos"

Con el objeto de obtener valores de referencias y de factores de riesgo lipoproteicos en poblaciones de neonatos españoles, se analizaron en sangre de cordón de 548 recién nacidos de la provincia de Toledo los niveles de colesterol glucosa total, triglicéridos, colesterol transportado por la hdl, vldl, ldl, apos ai y b y los cocientes de riesgo ct/hdl-c y apo al/apo b. Estos neonatos tenían unas características comunes y bien definidas: a término de parto eutócico, con presentación cefálica, con peso entre 2,500 kg y menos de 4,0 kg y con ausencia de sufrimiento fetal (apgar 1 y 2 (mayor igual) 7 y (mayor igual 9), respectivamente ). Las diferencias encontradas entre niños y niñas para parámetros lipoproteicos se hacen mas evidentes cuando se trata de neonatos hipercolesterolémicos. Dichos valores de referencia, juntos con los de otros estudios permitirán la construcción de tablas de valores de referencia y patológicos de poblaciones de neonatos españoles, las cuales hacen referencia a poblaciones foráneas con diferente etnia, con la incidencia negativa que esto supone sobre el metabolismo lipídic

Hypercortisolaemia and Hyperinsulinaemia Interaction and their Impact upon Insulin Resistance/Sensitivity Markers at Birth

Information on insulin resistance/sensitivity in term-normoweight neonates is scarce. The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis and pancreas are implicated in several aspects of foetal maturation and programming. This study aims to analyse the effects of a combination of hyperinsulinaemia plus hypercortisolaemia in such neonates together with their mothers℉ gestational glucose tolerance on growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF)-1, glucose, and insulin resistance/sensitivity markers [homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)/quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI)] at birth. Furthermore, the importance of pregnancy diet quality on these markers is discussed. In a selected group of 187 term-normoweight non-distressed neonates, about 9% had increased insulin and cortisol cord-blood concentrations. In spite of normality criteria applied, the combination of hypercortisolaemia and hyperinsulinaemia at birth was associated with higher body weight, body length, glucose, HOMA-IR, GH, IGF-1 and glucose/insulin ratio values than those of neonates presenting low/normal concentrations of insulin and cortisol. Hyperinsulinaemia preferentially to hypercortisolaemia affected the markers studied. Impaired glucose tolerance prevalence was higher in mothers whose neonates were hyperinsulinaemic at birth. The hyperinsulinaemic plus hypercortisolaemic status was more prevalent in neonates whose mothers had poor Mediterranean diet adherence. Results show the importance of analysing insulin and cortisol in cord-blood even in term-normoweight neonates

A Nori but not a Konbu, dietary supplement decreases the cholesterolaemia, liver fat infiltration and mineral bioavailability in hypercholesterolaemic growing Wistar rats

The nutritional consequences of algae consumption in young populations consuming hypercholesterolaemic diets have hardly been investigated. This study tests the effect of algae supplementation of cholesterol-enriched balanced diets on growth, dietary efficiency ratio, mineral intake and absorption, organ weight and structure and cholesterolaemia in growing Wistar rats. Three groups of ten rats each were fed for 3 weeks with experimental diets containing 93% casein-soyabean oil base with 2.4% cholesterol-raising agent and 7% supplement. The control group received cellulose (35%), group 2 consumed Nori (33.8% fibre) and group 3 consumed Konbu (36.1% fibre). Food intake and body weight gain were not significantly affected. Algae groups presented significantly higher dietary efficiency ratio values than control rats. Apparent absorption of several minerals appeared significantly affected, mainly in Nori-fed rats, with a significant decrease in the ratio of Zn and Cu intakes and apparent absorption. Nori diet significantly decreased plasma cholesterol. Algae supplement did not significantly affect organ size and structure. Control and Konbu rats showed severe liver fat infiltration, while Nori rats exhibited a significantly lower degree of lipid-like hepatocyte vacuolization but light to moderate leukocyte infiltration. Light to moderate scaling off of the epithelium and moderate submucosa oedema was observed in all groups. Although long-term studies are needed to check the possible extrapolation of these data to human subjects, it can be concluded that a Nori, but not a Konbu, dietary supplement reverses the negative effect of dietary cholesterol intake and also appears to be related to mineral availability in growing subjects. © 2007 The Authors.This work was granted by the Spanish Ministerio de Investigación y Ciencia, Project AGL 2005-07204-C02-C1/ALI.Peer Reviewe

Compost, leonardite, and zeolite impacts on soil microbial community under barley crops

There is little information about the potential effects of compost and zeolite or zeolite with leonardite as soil amendments in barley cultivation. Thus in this study, the following objectives were proposed: i) to compare the effects of the addition of compost, alone or simultaneously with zeolite, and of the addition of leonarditeenriched zeolite with those of the conventional NPK fertilization used in barley cultivation, on the soil nutritional status, microbial community structure, and enzyme activity in different stages of barley cultivation; and ii) to establish relationships between the different soil parameter trends, soil microbial community structure, and barley crop yield. In the field experiment carried out with a barley crop, the alternative fertilization treatments tested had an overall positive effect, in comparison with conventional fertilization with a mineral NPK fertilizer, when soil quality parameters, the nutritional level and yield of the barley crop were analyzed. Zeolite with leonardite increased barley yield in comparison with the compost treatments, either with zeolite or without, but had an excessive contribution to the water soluble contents of Na and N in soil. So, using environmental and agronomic criteria, the most rational action would be the use of compost in agriculture.The authors are grateful to National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA) of Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, and ERANET-ARIMNET programme for funding this study as a work action inside the project ARIDWASTE (Ref. number: 219262 FP7-ERANET ARIMNET) entitled: “Development of Specific Agricultural Practices with the Use of Recycled Wastes Suitable for Intensively Cultivated Mediterranean Areas under Degradation Risk”. The authors also are grateful to Dr David J. Walker from Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario, Murcia, Spain for his language edition and writing assistance in this paper

Aplicación de un test colorimétrico al estudio del rendimiento y vida útil en fritura de alimentos precocinados y frescos de aceite de oliva, aceite de girasol y su mezcla

The frying-life of olive oil, sunflower oil and a their homogeneous blend used in 40 repeated and discontinuous frying of different food, mostly precooked and frozen foods, were comparatively determined by using the qualitative color test “Fritest” and color developed at 500 nm using this test (A500). These measurements were significantly correlated (p< 0.001) to polar material, oligomer content and other thermaloxidation parameters The color selected to discard the oil -3 crosses- corresponds to A500 of 0.35 and to 25 % polar material and 10-15 % of oligomers. The shelf life (< 3 crosses or A500< 0.35) was 32 frying for olive oil, 22 fryings for sunflower oil, and 26 for their blend. The oil efficiency was assessed taking into account the weight decrease of foods, the oil loss, and the amount of food fried (kg food/L oil used) before oil discarding taking into account A500< 0,35 o A500< 0,4 cut-points. Olive oil presented a better efficiency (3.1 kg/L) than the sunflower oil and the blend (2.23 and 2.64 kg/L, respectively). Results suggest (i) the validity of the “Fritest” for a rapid evaluation of the alterations of different oils; (ii) the better efficiency and the longer shelf-life of olive oil than sunflower oil and the blend when frying different foods mostly pre-cooked and frozen foods.Se compara la vida útil de aceite de oliva, aceite de girasol y una mezcla de ambos utilizados en 40 frituras repetidas de alimentos, la mayoría precocinados y congelados, mediante el test cualitativo colorimétrico “Fritest” y la determinación del color desarrollado por dicho test a 500 nm. (A500) correlaciona muy significativamente (p< 0.001) con el material polar, contenido de oligómeros y otros parámetros de la alteración termoxidativa estudiados. El color para el cual debía eliminarse un aceite -3 cruces- se correspondió con una A500 de 0,35 y con 25% de material polar y con 12-15% de oligómeros. La vida útil de los aceites (< 3 cruces o A500< 0,35) fue de 32 frituras para el aceite de oliva, 22 para el de girasol y 26 para la mezcla. El rendimiento de los aceites se valoró en términos de merma ponderal de alimento, gasto de aceite y cantidad de alimento que pudo ser frito por litro de aceite antes de ser desechado atendiendo A500< 0,35 o A500< 0,4. El aceite de oliva presentó un rendimiento superior (3,1 kg de alimento/L de aceite) al de girasol y mezcla de aceites (2,23 y 2,64 kg/L, respectivamente). Estos resultados señalan (i) la validez del “Fritest” para la evaluación rápida de la vida útil de aceites de fritura y (ii) el mayor rendimiento y vida útil del aceite de oliva respecto al de girasol o la mezcla de aceites de oliva y girasol en fritura de alimentos la mayoría precocinados y congelados

Plant-plant competition outcomes are modulated by plant effects on the soil bacterial community

Competition is a key process that determines plant community structure and dynamics, often mediated by nutrients and water availability. However, the role of soil microorganisms on plant competition, and the links between above- and belowground processes, are not well understood. Here we show that the effects of interspecific plant competition on plant performance are mediated by feedbacks between plants and soil bacterial communities. Each plant species selects a singular community of soil microorganisms in its rhizosphere with a specific species composition, abundance and activity. When two plant species interact, the resulting soil bacterial community matches that of the most competitive plant species, suggesting strong competitive interactions between soil bacterial communities as well. We propose a novel mechanism by which changes in belowground bacterial communities promoted by the most competitive plant species influence plant performance and competition outcome. These findings emphasise the strong links between plant and soil communities, paving the way to a better understanding of plant community dynamics and the effects of soil bacterial communities on ecosystem functioning and services

Brief history of Coeliac disease

In this work on celiac disease, the authors focus mainly on the most relevant historical aspects that have been patterning knowledge on celiac disease. Once more details of the disease through their symptoms have been known, a more rigorous profile of this pathology was made. Thus, the Celiac Diseases first was considered a chronic indigestion without relation to the type of food ingested, then it was found that it was based on an intolerance to gliadin and other similar proteins, later that it is an autoimmune disease. The important contributions of Areteo, Soriano, Gee, Herter, Dicke, Anderson, Marsh are reviewed and their contributions and research have helped indisputably the knowledge of the central aspects of the Celiac Disease. This paper does not want to obviate the work of Spanish physicians and researcher as Santiago Cavengt, Ángel Ballabriga, Manuel Suárez Perdiguero, Isabel Polanco nor the work of the international and national Celiacs societies and the Spanish “Ministry of Salud y Consumo”

Los errores del Profesor mejoran el aprendizaje del alumno

Depto. de Nutrición y Ciencia de los AlimentosFac. de FarmaciaFALSESin financiaciónsubmitte