Windkessel modeling of the human arterial system

Cardiovascular diseases are a major concern of our society. Millions of patients all around the world are affected by disorders such as arrhythmias or atherosclerosis. Moreover, finding new diagnostic techniques and treatments is of increased difficulty due to the complexity of cardiovascular medicine. In this context, the upcoming generations of experts must be well prepared for overcoming such a challenge. This project aims to develop an educational tool that will allow students to improve their understanding on cardiovascular fluid mechanics and physiology and will allow them to gain practical experience before dealing with real patients. A system modelling the arterial system, available at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, is used for this purpose. The educational tool is composed by a theoretical simulation interface and an acquisition and control program, created using MATLAB, and a practical environment based on a physical pneumatic-hydraulic device. A laboratory practice for the students has been developed describing how to work with both platforms.Ingeniería Biomédic

ENSEÑAR A ENSEÑAR Y ENSEÑAR A APRENDER COMO ESTRATEGIAS DIDÁCTICAS PARA POTENCIAR LA EVALUACIÓN DEL APRENDIZAJE

El artículo se centra en las estrategias didácticas de enseñar a enseñar y enseñar a aprender, dirigidas a favorecer el proceso de evaluación del aprendizaje en la formación pedagógica superior y en el contexto educativo de la escuela primaria. Se describe la metodología propuesta para la implementación de dichas estrategias y los resultados obtenidos con su aplicación, tales como una mejor orientación de los alumnos hacia las tareas de aprendizaje, la incorporación de todos los docentes en formación y alumnos de la escuela primaria implicados en los análisis de los resultados mediante la auto y coevaluación; en todos los casos se evidenció un movimiento favorable entre los rangos de 3 a 5. Para realizar la investigación que constituye la génesis de este artículo se utilizaron métodos empíricos y teóricos que corroboraron la necesidad de perfeccionar la evaluación del aprendizaje de los escolares primarios, desde la implementación de las estrategias de referencia. Las escalas valorativas sobre el análisis de la evaluación en los diferentes momentos de la actividad de aprendizaje se fundamentan en los resultados de los análisis exploratorios, la interpretación de instrumentos de evaluación aplicados y en la sistematización de algunas fuentes teóricas

A specific gut microbiota signature is associated with an enhanced GLP-1 and GLP-2 secretion and improved metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes after metabolic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Objective: To determine changes in incretins, systemic inflammation, intestinal permeability and microbiome modifications 12 months after metabolic RYGB (mRYGB) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and their relationship with metabolic improvement. Materials and methods: Prospective single-center non-randomized controlled study, including patients with class II-III obesity and T2D undergoing mRYGB. At baseline and one year after surgery we performed body composition measurements, biochemical analysis, a meal tolerance test (MTT) and lipid test (LT) with determination of the area under the curve (AUC) for insulin, C-peptide, GLP-1, GLP-2, and fasting determinations of succinate, zonulin, IL-6 and study of gut microbiota. Results: Thirteen patients aged 52.6 ± 6.5 years, BMI 39.3 ± 1.4 kg/m2, HbA1c 7.62 ± 1.5% were evaluated. After mRYGB, zonulin decreased and an increase in AUC after MTT was observed for GLP-1 (pre 9371 ± 5973 vs post 15788 ± 8021 pM, P<0.05), GLP-2 (pre 732 ± 182 vs post 1190 ± 447 ng/ml, P<0.001) and C- peptide, as well as after LT. Species belonging to Streptococaceae, Akkermansiacea, Rickenellaceae, Sutterellaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Oscillospiraceae, Veillonellaceae, Enterobacterales_uc, and Fusobacteriaceae families increased after intervention and correlated positively with AUC of GLP-1 and GLP-2, and negatively with glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides and adiposity markers. Clostridium perfringens and Roseburia sp. 40_7 behaved similarly. In contrast, some species belonging to Lachnospiraceae, Erysipelotricaceae, and Rumnicocaceae families decreased and showed opposite correlations. Higher initial C-peptide was the only predictor for T2D remission, which was achieved in 69% of patients. Conclusions: Patients with obesity and T2D submitted to mRYGB show an enhanced incretin response, a reduced gut permeability and a metabolic improvement, associated with a specific microbiota signature

A specific gut microbiota signature is associated with an enhanced GLP-1 and GLP-2 secretion and improved metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes after metabolic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

ObjectiveTo determine changes in incretins, systemic inflammation, intestinal permeability and microbiome modifications 12 months after metabolic RYGB (mRYGB) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and their relationship with metabolic improvement.Materials and methodsProspective single-center non-randomized controlled study, including patients with class II-III obesity and T2D undergoing mRYGB. At baseline and one year after surgery we performed body composition measurements, biochemical analysis, a meal tolerance test (MTT) and lipid test (LT) with determination of the area under the curve (AUC) for insulin, C-peptide, GLP-1, GLP-2, and fasting determinations of succinate, zonulin, IL-6 and study of gut microbiota.ResultsThirteen patients aged 52.6 ± 6.5 years, BMI 39.3 ± 1.4 kg/m2, HbA1c 7.62 ± 1.5% were evaluated. After mRYGB, zonulin decreased and an increase in AUC after MTT was observed for GLP-1 (pre 9371 ± 5973 vs post 15788 ± 8021 pM, P&lt;0.05), GLP-2 (pre 732 ± 182 vs post 1190 ± 447 ng/ml, P&lt;0.001) and C- peptide, as well as after LT. Species belonging to Streptococaceae, Akkermansiacea, Rickenellaceae, Sutterellaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Oscillospiraceae, Veillonellaceae, Enterobacterales_uc, and Fusobacteriaceae families increased after intervention and correlated positively with AUC of GLP-1 and GLP-2, and negatively with glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides and adiposity markers. Clostridium perfringens and Roseburia sp. 40_7 behaved similarly. In contrast, some species belonging to Lachnospiraceae, Erysipelotricaceae, and Rumnicocaceae families decreased and showed opposite correlations. Higher initial C-peptide was the only predictor for T2D remission, which was achieved in 69% of patients.ConclusionsPatients with obesity and T2D submitted to mRYGB show an enhanced incretin response, a reduced gut permeability and a metabolic improvement, associated with a specific microbiota signature

The Emergence of Arboriculture in the 1st Millennium BC along the Mediterranean’s “Far West”

This paper presents the history of the introduction and expansion of arboriculture during the 1st millennium BC from the South of the Iberian Peninsula to the South of France. The earliest evidence of arboriculture at the beginning of the 1st millennium hails from the south of the Iberia from where it spread northward along the peninsula’s eastern edge. The different fruits (grape, olive, fig, almond, pomegranate and apple/pear) arrived together in certain areas in spite of uneven distribution and acceptance by local communities. Grape was the crop with the greatest diffusion. The greater diversity of crops in the southern half of the peninsula is also noteworthy. Their development paved the way for a commercial agricultural model in some territories where fruits and their derivatives, such as wine and oil, played vital roles.This paper is an output of the project FRUITCOM “Un nuevo modelo agrícola: frutales, hierro y comercio durante el I milenio A.E.” (CIDEGENT/2019/003), funded by Generalitat Valenciana. This research also received support from the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Movilidad, circulación e intercambio en el llano occidental catalán entre el III y el I milenio ANE, PID2019-110022GB-I00) and from the French National Agency of Research (VINICULTURE project—ANR-16-CE27-0013)

Estrategias para fomentar la Creatividad y la Innovación en el Aula

Creativity and innovation are essential skills in the educational field, and their promotion is critical for the cognitive, emotional, and social development of students. In this work, we reviewed the scientific literature on strategies to foster creativity and innovation in the classroom in the last 5 years, selecting review and original articles from databases such as Scopus, Scielo, and Latindex. The results suggest that the use of digital technologies, the development of critical and creative thinking skills, problem-solving, and project-based learning are some of the strategies that can be effective in fostering creativity and innovation in students. In addition, the importance of fostering a creative climate in the classroom and university to improve educational quality and institutional competitiveness was highlighted. This work contributes to the development of effective strategies to foster creativity and innovation in the educational field.La creatividad y la innovación son habilidades esenciales en el ámbito educativo y su fomento es fundamental para el desarrollo cognitivo, emocional y social de los estudiantes. En este trabajo se revisó la literatura científica sobre las estrategias para fomentar la creatividad y la innovación en el aula en los últimos 5 años, seleccionando artículos de revisión y originales de bases de datos como Scopus, Scielo y Latindex. Los resultados sugieren que el uso de tecnologías digitales, el desarrollo de habilidades de pensamiento crítico y creativo, la resolución de problemas y el aprendizaje basado en proyectos son algunas de las estrategias que pueden ser efectivas para fomentar la creatividad e innovación en los estudiantes. Además, se destacó la importancia de fomentar un clima creativo en el aula y en la universidad para mejorar la calidad educativa y la competitividad institucional. Este trabajo contribuye al desarrollo de estrategias efectivas para fomentar la creatividad e innovación en el ámbito educativo

Recommendations by the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy, the Spanish Society of Oncology Nursing and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology for the safe management of antineoplastic medication in cancer patients

Aim: To define recommendations that permit safe management of antineoplastic medication, minimise medication errors and improve the safety of cancer patients undergoing treatment. Methods: By reviewing the literature and consulting the websites of various health organisations and agencies, an expert committee from the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology defined a set of safe practices covering all stages of providing cancer therapy to patients. The Spanish Society of Oncology Nursing revised and endorsed the final list. Results: In total, 68 recommendations arranged in five sections were defined. They include issues concerning the training of health professionals, the technological resources needed, treatment planning, informing the patient and his/her family, the processes of prescribing, preparing, dispensing and administering cancer therapy (orally, parenterally or intrathecally), assessing patient adherence and treatment toxicity. Conclusions: It is essential for healthcare establishments to implement specific measures designed to prevent medication errors, in order to ensure the safety of cancer patients treated with antineoplastic medication.This project was supported with unrestricted grants from SEFH and SEOM

The origin and collapse of rock glaciers during the Bølling-Allerød interstadial: A new study case from the Cantabrian Mountains (Spain)

.During the Late Pleistocene, the main mountain ranges of the Iberian Peninsula were covered by small icefields and cirque and alpine glaciers. The deglaciation triggered paraglacial processes that generated landforms, mostly within the ice-free glacial cirques. In this research we analyse the deglaciation process in the Muxivén Cirque (42°15′N – 6°16′W), in the upper Sil River Basin, which includes some of the largest relict rock glaciers of the Cantabrian Mountains. We addressed this objective by means of accurate geomorphological reconstructions, sedimentological analysis, Schmidt-hammer surface weathering measurements and a dataset of 10 10Be Cosmic-Ray Exposure ages. Results reveal that after ~16 ka, glaciers retreated to the bottom of the cirques at the headwaters of the valley, leaving the walls free of ice and triggering rock avalanches onto the remnants of these glaciers. This paraglacial process supplied debris to a small glacier within Muxivén Cirque, which transformed in two rock glaciers. These debris isolated the ice inside the rock glaciers only for a very short period of time and ended up melting completely before the Younger Dryas. The lower sector of the largest one stabilized at 14.5 ± 1.5 ka, while the upper sector remained active until 13.5 ± 0.8 ka. Previous to the stabilization of the lower sector of the northern rock glacier, at its margin a high-energy debris avalanche occurred at ~14.0 ± 0.9 ka. These data agree with previous research, corroborating the paraglacial origin of most Iberian rock glaciers during the Bølling-Allerød interstadial.S