ArcGIS StoryMaps Facilitates Student Learning

Second Annual University of Arkansas Teaching and Learning Symposium: Sharing Teaching Ideas As a tool that allows for the creation of a geospatial multimedia story, ArcGIS StoryMaps facilitates students’ learning both inside and outside of the classroom. This interactive software offers students the opportunity to express their understanding of an input and elaborate upon it in original and personal ways using various sources. In this presentation, we will illustrate how ArcGIS can be used successfully in an advanced Italian language class to engage students with a fable by Somali-Italian acclaimed writer Igiaba Scego, Prestami le ali. Examples of scaffolded and collaborative activities demonstrate how students were able to retell the original text with their own words and images. ArcGIS supports students’ understanding of the text and its cultural components by making its storyline and geography more relatable. Moreover, it stimulates students’ creativity by expanding the text with details that make the story more accessible and the story’s geography easier to identify. The various assignments stimulated the students’ creativity and gave them the opportunity to practice the Italian language with topics that align with their interests

ArcGIS StoryMaps Facilitates Student Learning

Second Annual University of Arkansas Teaching and Learning Symposium: Sharing Teaching Ideas As a tool that allows for the creation of a geospatial multimedia story, ArcGIS StoryMaps facilitates students’ learning both inside and outside of the classroom. This interactive software offers students the opportunity to express their understanding of an input and elaborate upon it in original and personal ways using various sources. In this presentation, we will illustrate how ArcGIS can be used successfully in an advanced Italian language class to engage students with a fable by Somali-Italian acclaimed writer Igiaba Scego, Prestami le ali. Examples of scaffolded and collaborative activities demonstrate how students were able to retell the original text with their own words and images. ArcGIS supports students’ understanding of the text and its cultural components by making its storyline and geography more relatable. Moreover, it stimulates students’ creativity by expanding the text with details that make the story more accessible and the story’s geography easier to identify. The various assignments stimulated the students’ creativity and gave them the opportunity to practice the Italian language with topics that align with their interests

Extracellular cysteine in connexins: Role as redox sensors

Indexación: Scopus.Connexin-based channels comprise hemichannels and gap junction channels. The opening of hemichannels allow for the flux of ions and molecules from the extracellular space into the cell and vice versa. Similarly, the opening of gap junction channels permits the diffusional exchange of ions and molecules between the cytoplasm and contacting cells. The controlled opening of hemichannels has been associated with several physiological cellular processes; thereby unregulated hemichannel activity may induce loss of cellular homeostasis and cell death. Hemichannel activity can be regulated through several mechanisms, such as phosphorylation, divalent cations and changes in membrane potential. Additionally, it was recently postulated that redox molecules could modify hemichannels properties in vitro. However, the molecular mechanism by which redox molecules interact with hemichannels is poorly understood. In this work, we discuss the current knowledge on connexin redox regulation and we propose the hypothesis that extracellular cysteines could be important for sensing changes in redox potential. Future studies on this topic will offer new insight into hemichannel function, thereby expanding the understanding of the contribution of hemichannels to disease progression.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2016.00001/ful

From MFN to SFN: Performance Prediction Through Machine Learning

In the last decade, the transition of digital terrestrial television (DTT) systems from multi-frequency networks (MFNs) to single-frequency networks (SFNs) has become a reality. SFN offers multiple advantages concerning MFN, such as more efficient management of the radioelectric spectrum, homogenizing the network parameters, and a potential SFN gain. However, the transition process can be cumbersome for operators due to the multiple measurement campaigns and required finetuning of the final SFN system to ensure the desired quality of service. To avoid time-consuming field measurements and reduce the costs associated with the SFN implementation, this paper aims to predict the performance of an SFN system from the legacy MFN and position data through machine learning (ML) algorithms. It is proposed a ML concatenated structure based on classification and regression to predict SFN electric-field strength, modulation error ratio, and gain. The model's training and test process are performed with a dataset from an SFN/MFN trial in Ghent, Belgium. Multiple algorithms have been tuned and compared to extract the data patterns and select the most accurate algorithms. The best performance to predict the SFN electric-field strength is obtained with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.93, modulation error ratio of 0.98, and SFN gain of 0.89 starting from MFN parameters and position data. The proposed method allows classifying the data points according to positive or negative SFN gain with an accuracy of 0.97

Effects of successive judo matches on interlimb asymmetry and bilateral deficit

Objective: To verify the effects of successive judo matches on interlimb asymmetry and bilateral deficit in judo athletes. Design: Repeated measures Setting: University Judo center Participants: Fourteen male judo athletes Outcome measures: Four simulated matches consisting of 4-min. Before the first match and after each match athletes were submitted to single leg tests – Countermovement Jump (SLCMJ) and Standing Long Jump (SLSLJ), and handgrip strength (HGS) in the dominant and non-dominant limbs. Interlimb asymmetry was calculated in both jumps and handgrip strength tests. Results: Most jump-derived variables did not change the magnitude of asymmetry throughout the matches (p>0.05), with the exception of jump height asymmetry in SLCMJ, that increased after the second match (p=0.001). The HGS decreased in both hands from the first match (p<0.001), without asymmetry. The highest bilateral strength deficit was observed in post-match 1 and post-match 2 (close to 10%). Conclusion: Four-successive judo matches did not change the magnitude of interlimb asymmetry, with exception of SLCMJ height, which increased after the second match. The handgrip strength decreased throughout the matches, but similarly in both hands. Finally, the direction of asymmetry showed consistency throughout the matches only for SLCMJ height

The training of investigative skills and their Trends in Educational Leadership. Methodological Proposal

Las dinámicas contemporáneas de la Universidad, condicionan investigaciones sobre los procesos de formación profesional con especial énfasis en la formación de las competencias investigativas en docentes y su empoderamiento como líderes científicos. A estos empeños los académicos e investigadores, prestan sus mejores esfuerzos, tratando de potenciar una universidad pertinente, capaz de empoderar a sus profesionales de la plenitud humana liberadora que requiere la sociedad del siglo XXI. La investigación que se presenta responde a la pregunta ¿Cómo contribuir a la formación de líderes científicos en las universidades? Situando su objetivo en desarrollar los procesos de gestión formativa permanente de profesores investigadores, para así convertirlos en agentes de transformación de los contextos laborales en sus l territorios. A través de métodos y teorías científicas se revela la trascendencia de los procesos formativos de investigadores docentes y su valor para la potenciación de los procesos científicos en la comunidad universitaria. Desarrollándose una metodología de intervención para la Universidad UNIANDES, que propicia el surgimiento de líderes investigativosThe contemporary dynamics of the University, condition research on the processes of professional training with special emphasis on the training of research competencies in teachers and their empowerment as scientific leaders. To these efforts academics and researchers, they give their best efforts, trying to promote a relevant university, capable of empowering their professionals to the liberating human fullness that society of the 21st century requires. The research that is presented responds to the question How to contribute to the formation of scientific leaders in the universities? Setting its objective in developing the processes of permanent formative management of research professors, so as to transform them into agents of transformation of labor contexts in their territories. Through scientific methods and theories the transcendence of the educational processes of educational researchers and their value for the enhancement of the scientific processes in the university community is revealed. Developing an intervention methodology for UNIANDES University, which promotes the emergence of investigative leader

Shortening the lipid A acyl chains of Bordetella pertussis enables depletion of lipopolysaccharide endotoxic activity

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Whole-cell vaccines, which were introduced in the fifties of the previous century and proved to be effective, showed considerable reactogenicity and were replaced by subunit vaccines around the turn of the century. However, there is a considerable increase in the number of cases in industrialized countries. A possible strategy to improve vaccine-induced protection is the development of new, non-toxic, whole-cell pertussis vaccines. The reactogenicity of whole-cell pertussis vaccines is, to a large extent, derived from the lipid A moiety of the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of the bacteria. Here, we engineered B. pertussis strains with altered lipid A structures by expressing genes for the acyltransferases LpxA, LpxD, and LpxL from other bacteria resulting in altered acyl-chain length at various positions. Whole cells and extracted LPS from the strains with shorter acyl chains showed reduced or no activation of the human Toll-like receptor 4 in HEK-Blue reporter cells, whilst a longer acyl chain increased activation. Pyrogenicity studies in rabbits confirmed the in vitro assays. These findings pave the way for the development of a new generation of whole-cell pertussis vaccines with acceptable side effects

Kinetics of antibodies in sera, saliva, and urine samples from adult patients with primary or secondary dengue 3 virus infections

SummaryObjectivesThe kinetics of three serological markers (IgM, IgA, and IgG) in serum, saliva, and urine samples from adult patients with primary or secondary dengue infection were studied.DesignSerum, saliva, and urine samples were collected from 22 patients with clinical and confirmed dengue 3 virus infection during the outbreak in Havana City in 2001. They were tested by capture IgM (MAC-ELISA), IgA (AAC-ELISA), and IgE (EAC-ELISA) and IgG ELISA inhibition method (EIM) to detect specific dengue antibodies.ResultsSimilar kinetics were observed in IgM, IgA, and IgG antibodies in saliva and IgA and IgG in urine samples from secondary cases compared with kinetics in serum samples, although the values were lower. No IgG antibody was detected in saliva and urine samples in primary cases and IgM antibody was not detected in urine samples from either primary or secondary infection. All secondary cases were positive for IgG in saliva and urine samples at day 7. The kinetics of specific IgE antibodies in primary and secondary cases were different.ConclusionsThe kinetics of three serological markers (IgM, IgA, and IgG) in serum, saliva, and urine samples from adult patients with primary or secondary dengue 3 virus infection were studied for the first time, showing its behavior and usefulness in dengue virus diagnosis. The specific IgE could play a role as a serological marker in secondary infections