Fostering Student’s Engagement and Active Learning in Neuroscience Education

[EN] Neurophobia is a term coined to describe university students’ fear of neuroscience, which negatively affect learning. The implementation of new technologies in higher education, such as new response systems, provide an opportunity to improve neurosciences learning and teaching by engaging students. However, most response systems rely on student devices such as clickers. The aim of this study is to illustrate the application of a new digital application for collection of real-time formative assessment data in higher education. Results of this study support the utility paper-based response cards to foster engagement and active learning in higher education, even with complex neuroscience topics, providing real-time formative assessment data without the need for student devices

Closed-Loop Control of Anaesthetic Effect

Archivo disponible en la web de la revista, Open Access, en la siguiente URL: https://www.intechopen.com/books/pharmacology/closed-loop-control-of-anesthetic-effect Se puede referenciar de la siguiente manera: Santiago Torres, Juan A. Méndez, Héctor Reboso, José A. Reboso and Ana León (2012). Closed-Loop Control of Anaesthetic Effect, Pharmacology, Dr. Luca Gallelli (Ed.), InTech, DOI: 10.5772/37609. Available from: https://www.intechopen.com/books/pharmacology/closed-loop-control-of-anesthet

Comparative theoretical analysis between parallel and perpendicular geometries for 2d particle patterning in photovoltaic ferroelectric substrates

This paper describes the dielectrophoretic potential created by the evanescent electric field acting on a particle near a photovoltaic crystal surface depending on the crystal cut. This electric field is obtained from the steady state solution of the Kukhtarev equations for the photovoltaic effect, where the diffusion term has been disregarded. First, the space charge field generated by a small, square, light spot where d ≪ l (being d a side of the square and l the crystal thickness) is studied. The surface charge density generated in both geometries is calculated and compared as their relation determines the different properties of the dielectrophoretic potential for both cuts. The shape of the dielectrophoretic potential is obtained and compared for several distances to the sample. Afterwards other light patterns are studied by the superposition of square spots, and the resulting trapping profiles are analysed. Finally the surface charge densities and trapping profiles for different d/l relations are studiedThis work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad under grants MAT2011-28379- C03 and MAT2014-57704-C

European expert network on rare communicable diseases and other rare diseases linked to mobility and globalisation focused on health care provision (EURaDMoG) : a feasibility study

Introduction: In the current mobility and globalization context, there is a growing need to identify potential changes on the pattern of diseases in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) and provide accurate diagnosis and treatment for the population. The pattern of rare communicable diseases that can affect people returning to EU/EEA from travel abroad, visiting EU/EEA or establishing in the EU/EEA is of special relevance. The objective of this manuscript is to give an overview about the EURaDMoG study and discuss the feasibility of establishing a European network on rare communicable diseases and other rare conditions linked to mobility and globalization. Methods: We undertook a three-steps process where we first conducted a narrative review to estimate the prevalence and incidence and to list rare communicable and non-communicable diseases linked to mobility and globalization in the EU/EEA; second, we organized an international consultation workshop with experts in the diseases previously selected; and finally, the feasibility study analysed how successful a European expert network on rare diseases linked to mobility and globalization focused on health care provision would be, accounting for different operational and also sustainability criteria. Results: First, considering the areas or topics that the network should cover, it was concluded that communicable and non-communicable rare diseases linked to mobility and globalization should be differentiated. Second, since all non-communicable rare diseases linked to mobility and globalization identified are already covered by different European Reference Networks (ERNs), there is no need for them to be included in a new European network. Three scenarios were considered for establishing a potential European network for rare communicable diseases linked to Mobility and Globalisation with a focus on Health Care provision: 1) To maintain the current situation "Status Quo" scenario; 2) to create a specific European expert network (EEN) on rare communicable diseases linked to mobility and globalisation; 3) to develop a new ERN on communicable rare diseases linked to mobility and globalisation. Conclusions: Since the focus is the provision of health care, an ERN could have the potential to better boost the quality of care being facilitated by technological tools and online platforms that permit the safe and ethically acceptable exchange of data. However, this potential new network should not eclipse current existing networks and they should be complementary

The Oxygen Reduction Pathway for Spinel Metal Oxides in Alkaline Media: An Experimentally Supported Ab Initio Study

Precious-metal-free spinel oxide electrocatalysts are promising candidates for catalyzing the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline fuel cells. In this theory-driven study, we use joint density-functional theory in tandem with supporting electrochemical measurements to identify a novel theoretical pathway for the ORR on cubic Co3O4 nanoparticle electrocatalysts. This pathway aligns more closely with experimental results than previous models. The new pathway employs the cracked adsorbates *(OH)(O) and *(OH)(OH), which, through hydrogen bonding, induce spectator surface *H. This results in an onset potential closely matching experimental values, in stark contrast to the traditional ORR pathway, which keeps adsorbates intact and overestimates the onset potential by 0.7 V. Finally, we introduce electrochemical strain spectroscopy (ESS), a groundbreaking strain analysis technique. ESS combines ab initio calculations with experimental measurements to validate proposed reaction pathways and pinpoint rate-limiting steps

Estudios preliminares para la determinación de la resistencia a cortadura interlaminar ST mediante los ensayos Iosipescu y "Short beam shear"

La resistencia a cortadura interlaminar ST es una característica del material que juega un papel significativo en algunos de los criterios de fallo de la matriz en compresión con más repercusión en la actualidad (e.g.: Hashin, Puck, "World Wide Failure Exercise", 1998, 2002). Sin embargo, dicha característica resulta difícil de medir experimentalmente, por lo que es común la aproximación de dicho valor a partir de otras características del material que resultan más simples de determinar (resistencia a cortadura intralaminar S, resistencia a compresión perpendicular a las fibras YC, resistencia a cortadura en el ensayo "Short Beam Shear", SBS). En este trabajo se realiza un estudio acerca de la posibilidad de medir la resistencia a cortadura interlaminar ST empleando una configuración modificada de la probeta Iosipescu, y mediante una variante del ensayo SBS con las fibras perpendiculares a la dirección longitudinal de la probeta. Los resultados obtenidos para las diferentes configuraciones, y para distintas dimensiones de las probetas son analizados en el presente estudio.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología MAT2000-111

Assessment of different plasticizer – polyhydroxyalkanoate mixtures to obtain biodegradable polymeric films

The elaboration of films from biodegradable polymer polyhydroxybutyrate was studied with 4 main plasticizers at variable concentrations: polyethyleneglycol, lauric acid, glycerol and epoxidized soy bean oil. An evaluation of the state of the art in the properties of commercial PHB (polyhydroxybutyrate) and necessary additives was elaborated in order to establish the experimental design to develop a polymeric film. Also, the qualitative evaluation of overall brittleness showed a variability due the nature and concentration of plasticizer. The influence of plasticizers on polymeric films was evaluated with gas chromatography (GC/MS) and Infrared Spectroscopy. The measurements were made on samples from different stages of the process in order to evaluate PHA (polyhydrixyalkanoate) purity. Measurements from the gas chromatography studies show the purity of the inicial fermentation broth (59.87%) , after the extraction with SDS and sodium hypochlorite (65%) and in mixtures with PEG (58.15%). From a general perspective, polyethyleneglycol (PEG) lower the material frailness and does not modify the Infra Red Spetrum as well as the Crystallinity Index (CI) in comparison with a standard commercial sample (70%+

Optical constants of evaporation-deposited silicon monoxide films in the 7.1-800 eV photon energy range

8 págs.; 11 figs.The transmittance of silicon monoxide films prepared by thermal evaporation was measured from 7.1 to 800 eV and used to determine the optical constants of the material. SiO films deposited onto C-coated microgrids in ultrahigh vacuum conditions were measured in situ from 7.1 to 23.1 eV. Grid-supported SiO films deposited in high vacuum conditions were characterized ex situ from 28.5 to 800 eV. At each photon energy, transmittance, and thickness data were used to calculate the extinction coefficient k. The obtained k values combined with data from the literature, and with interpolations and extrapolations in the rest of the electromagnetic spectrum provided a complete set of k values that was used in a Kramers-Kronig analysis to obtain the real part of the index of refraction, n. Two different sum-rule tests were performed that indicated good consistency of the data. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.This work was supported by the National Programme for Space Research, Subdirección General de Proyectos de Investigación, Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, Project Nos. ESP2002-01391 and ESP2005-02650. This work was also performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by the University of California Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-AC03-76F00098 and by the University of California Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-AC52- 07NA27344. M.F.-P. is thankful to Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Spain for funding under the Programa I3P Contract No. I3P-BPD2004, partially supported by the European Social Fund. M.V.-D. acknowledges financial support from a FPI Contract No. BES-2006-14047 fellowship.Peer Reviewe

ARTÍCULO ORIGINAL: VALORACIÓN RÁPIDA DEL RIESGO TROMBÓTICO EN PACIENTES HOSPITALIZADOS CON ENFERMEDADES NO QUIRÚRGICAS

Justificación y Objetivos: Los eventos tromboembólicos en pacientes hospitalizados son contribuyentes de morbi-mortalidad. La minoría de los episodios se presentan durante el internamiento, siendo más frecuentes en los primeros tres meses posteriores al egreso. Se han desarrollado guías internacionales de diagnóstico y tratamiento de los eventos tromboembólicos, sin embargo, los lineamientos respecto a la prevención en los pacientes hospitalizados es escasa. En nuestro país no existen guías para estratificar por riesgo de sangrado y/o trombosis a los pacientes durante su estancia hospitalaria, por lo que se propone una guía de valoración rápida. Métodos: Entre enero y octubre del 2012 se realizó una búsqueda en las bases de datos EBSCO, PUBMED y MDCONSULT. Se seleccionaron y organizaron las referencias según el año de publicación, la escala de evidencia del Centro de Medicina Basada en Evidencia de Oxford del año 2009 y según la relevancia de los resultados, es decir la importancia que tiene el resultado en nuestro objetivo: la prevención de la enfermedad tromboembólica en el paciente hospitalizado. Resultados y Conclusiones: Se propone una guía local con la cual se valore rápidamente el riesgo de trombosis y sangrado individualmente de forma tal que la tromboprofilaxis administrada sea correcta y basada en evidencia. Esta guía es sencilla de implementar y no pretende reemplazar el criterio médico, sino sugerir lineamientos generales