Cooperative Learning and Group Management as the Cornerstones of Learning

El ciclo de mejora aplicado en la asignatura Química Orgánica del Grado en Bioquímica, supone una continuación al modelo de aprendizaje cooperativo aplicado en el curso 2017/18 en otro Ciclo de Mejora en el Aula (CIMA) en el programa de Formación e Innovación Docente del Profesorado (FIDOP). En ese caso, el CIMA se aplicó a uno de los temas más sencillos y al mismo tiempo ya conocido en general por los estudiantes en su etapa de Bachillerato. Sin embargo, este CIMA se extiende no solo a tres temas nuevos, sino que además el tercero es uno de los más complejos del temario, lo cual ha permitido poner a prueba el modelo de aprendizaje cooperativo en alumnos de primer curso. Este modelo metodológico se centra fundamentalmente en el alumno, requiriendo de ellos una gran implicación y motivación, así como una buena gestión del grupo. El poco hábito para este trabajo en grupo y el modelo tradicional de clases magistrales, han sido dos de los grandes enemigos de la metodología utilizada. Finalmente, los resultados obtenidos demuestran que el objetivo fundamental de provocar en el alumnado implicación y una actitud de esfuerzo continuado, que les aporte un conocimiento duradero se ha conseguido. Sin embargo, el liderazgo es una faceta aún por trabajar en esta metodología.The improvement cycle applied to the Organic Chemistry subject of the Biochemistry Degree is a continuation of the cooperative learning model applied in the course 2017/18 to another Improvement Cycle in Classroom (ICIC) in the Teacher Training Program (FIDOP). In that case, ICIC was applied to one of the simplest topics, previously studied by the students at high school. However, in this ICIC, not only is it extended to three new topics, but also the third is one of the most complex topics addressed in the subject. This has allowed the cooperative learning model to be tested on first-year students. This methodological model is fundamentally student-centered, requiring a high level of involvement and motivation from the students, as well as good group management. The lack of habit in cooperative working and the traditional master classes have been two of the great enemies of the methodology used. Finally, the results obtained show that the fundamental objective of triggering student participation and a continued effort attitude that provides them with lasting knowledge has been achieved. However, leadership is a role that still needs to be worked on this methodology

Grafted Sepiolites for the Removal of Pharmaceuticals in Water Treatment

The increased detection of pharmaceuticals in finished drinking water has become a growing cause of concern in recent years. The removal of atenolol, ranitidine, and carbamazepine by sepiolite, following functionalization of its surface by organosilane grafting, constituted the subject of this investigation. Silylated surfaces include octyl, γ-aminopropyl, 3-chloropropyl, and triphenyl moieties. The sorption of atenolol and ranitidine was higher on sepiolite functionalized with 3-chloropropyl, while carbamazepine showed a higher sorption on sepiolite with triphenyl groups. Filtration experiments of both ranitidine and carbamazepine on octyl- and triphenyl-sepiolite, respectively, showed a higher retention of ranitidine in comparison to carbamazepine, in spite of the fact that the number of sorption sites was lower due to its higher binding rate.Ministerio de Educación y Cultura CTM2013-42306-R, CTM2016-77168-

Latest Trends in Surface Modification for Dental Implantology: Innovative Developments and Analytical Applications

An increase in the world population and its life expectancy, as well as the ongoing concern about our physical appearance, have elevated the relevance of dental implantology in recent decades. Engineering strategies to improve the survival rate of dental implants have been widely investigated, focusing on implant material composition, geometry (usually guided to reduce stiffness), and interface surrounding tissues. Although efforts to develop different implant surface modifications are being applied in commercial dental prostheses today, the inclusion of surface coatings has gained special interest, as they can be tailored to efficiently enhance osseointegration, as well as to reduce bacterial-related infection, minimizing peri-implantitis appearance and its associated risks. The use of biomaterials to replace teeth has highlighted the need for the development of reliable analytical methods to assess the therapeutic benefits of implants. This literature review considers the state-of-the-art strategies for surface modification or coating and analytical methodologies for increasing the survival rate for teeth restoration.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PID2019-109371GB-I00Junta de Andalucía PAIDI 2020, P20_00671Universidad de Sevilla US-1380878, PPI505/2020, PPI532/202

On-Chip Solar Energy Harvester and PMU With Cold Start-Up and Regulated Output Voltage for Biomedical Applications

This paper presents experimental results from a system that comprises a fully autonomous energy harvester with a solar cell of 1 mm 2 as energy transducer and a Power Management Unit (PMU) on the same silicon substrate, and an output voltage regulator. Both chips are implemented in standard 0.18 μm CMOS technology with total layout areas of 1.575 mm 2 and 0.0126 mm 2 , respectively. The system also contains an off-the-shelf 3.2 mm × 2.5 mm × 0.9 mm supercapacitor working as an off-chip battery or energy reservoir between the PMU and the voltage regulator. Experimental results show that the fast energy recovery of the on-chip solar cell and PMU permits the system to replenish the supercapacitor with enough charge as to sustain Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communications even with input light powers of 510 nW. The whole system is able to self-start-up without external mechanisms at 340 nW. This work is the first step towards a self-supplied sensor node with processing and communication capabilities. The small form factor and ultra-low power consumption of the system components is in compliance with biomedical applications requirementsThis work was supported in part by the Spanish Government (Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades) under Project RTI2018-097088-B-C32 and Project RTI2018-095994-B-I00 (MICINN/FEDER), in part by the Xunta de Galicia, in part by the Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria (accreditation 2016-2019, ED431G/08 and reference competitive group 2017-2020, ED431C 2017/69) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and in part by the Junta de Extremadura and the ERDF, under Grant IB 18079S

Role of glutathione reductase in proteostasis regulation

Trabajo presentado en la V Spanish Worm Meeting, celebrada en Salamanca el 5 y 6 de marzo de 2015.Peer Reviewe

Desarrollo de líneas experimentales para su aplicación en los Trabajos de Fin de Grado en Química

Desde el punto de vista académico, los Trabajos Fin de Grado en Ciencias Químicas se presentan como proyectos experimentales relacionados con problemas reales, orientados a progresar en conocimientos y fortalecer competencias adquiridas, convirtiéndose en claves del currículo para el mundo profesional. Se abordan una serie de proyectos de laboratorio como una aproximación más realista al aprendizaje integral. La metodología docente propuesta favorece la búsqueda de información, pensamiento crítico, superación continua y éxito de los estudiantes, similar a la que se realiza en el mundo real, estimulando su interés y motivación durante el proceso de aprendizaje.Des del punt de vista acadèmic, els Treballs Fi de Grau en Ciències Químiques es presenten com a projectes experimentals relacionats amb problemes reals, orientats a progressar en coneixements i enfortir competències adquirides, convertint-se en claus del currículum per al món professional. S'aborden una sèrie de projectes integrals de laboratori com una aproximació més realista a l'aprenentatge integral. La metodologia docent proposta afavoreix la busca d'informació, pensament crític, superació contínua i èxit dels estudiants, semblant a la què es realitza en el món real, estimulant el seu interès i motivació durant el procés d'aprenentatge.From the academic point of view, the bachelor thesis in Chemistry is presented as a project based on a real problem. The goal is to progress in strengthening knowledge and skills already acquired. This is a key element for the students curricula related to their integration into the professional world. A comprehensive series of laboratory projects have been developed as a more realistic approach to the concept of integral learning. Teaching methodology promotes information searching, critical thinking, continuous improvement and success. The procedure is performed in conditions close to the real world, stimulating interest and motivation during the learning process

Metodologías grupales en el aula: desarrollo de procesos innovadores y aprendizaje continuado

El proyecto aborda la aplicación de metodologías grupales en el desarrollo y en el final de los procesos formativos. Recoge experiencias de 40 profesores de 6 universidades madrileñas

Loss of glutathione redox homeostasis impairs proteostasis by inhibiting autophagy-dependent protein degradation

In the presence of aggregation-prone proteins, the cytosol and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) undergo a dramatic shift in their respective redox status, with the cytosol becoming more oxidized and the ER more reducing. However, whether and how changes in the cellular redox status may affect protein aggregation is unknown. Here, we show that C. elegans loss-of-function mutants for the glutathione reductase gsr-1 gene enhance the deleterious phenotypes of heterologous human, as well as endogenous worm aggregation-prone proteins. These effects are phenocopied by the GSH-depleting agent diethyl maleate. Additionally, gsr-1 mutants abolish the nuclear translocation of HLH-30/TFEB transcription factor, a key inducer of autophagy, and strongly impair the degradation of the autophagy substrate p62/SQST-1::GFP, revealing glutathione reductase may have a role in the clearance of protein aggregates by autophagy. Blocking autophagy in gsr-1 worms expressing aggregation-prone proteins results in strong synthetic developmental phenotypes and lethality, supporting the physiological importance of glutathione reductase in the regulation of misfolded protein clearance. Furthermore, impairing redox homeostasis in both yeast and mammalian cells induces toxicity phenotypes associated with protein aggregation. Together, our data reveal that glutathione redox homeostasis may be central to proteostasis maintenance through autophagy regulation.. The Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness supported EF-S and VG (BFU2016–78265-P), PA (BFU2016– 79313-P and MDM-2016–0687), and AM-V (BFU2015–64408-P). AM-V was also supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI11/ 00072) and RPV-M (CPII16/00004, PI14/00949 and PI17/00011). All projects were cofinanced by the Fondo Social Europeo (FEDER). AM-V is a member of the GENIE and EU-ROS Cost Actions of the European Union and RPV-M is a Marie Curie Fellow (CIG322034, EU)

Impact of HLA Mismatching on Early Subclinical Inflammation in Low-Immunological-Risk Kidney Transplant Recipients

The impact of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mismatching on the early appearance of subclinical inflammation (SCI) in low-immunological-risk kidney transplant (KT) recipients is undetermined. We aimed to assess whether HLA-mismatching (A-B-C-DR-DQ) is a risk factor for early SCI. As part of a clinical trial (Clinicaltrials.gov, number NCT02284464), a total of 105 low-immunological-risk KT patients underwent a protocol biopsy on the third month post-KT. As a result, 54 presented SCI, showing a greater number of total HLA-mismatches (p = 0.008) and worse allograft function compared with the no inflammation group (48.5 ± 13.6 vs. 60 ± 23.4 mL/min; p = 0.003). Multiple logistic regression showed that the only risk factor associated with SCI was the total HLA-mismatch score (OR 1.32, 95%CI 1.06-1.64, p = 0.013) or class II HLA mismatching (OR 1.51; 95%CI 1.04-2.19, p = 0.032) after adjusting for confounder variables (recipient age, delayed graft function, transfusion prior KT, and tacrolimus levels). The ROC curve illustrated that the HLA mismatching of six antigens was the optimal value in terms of sensitivity and specificity for predicting the SCI. Finally, a significantly higher proportion of SCI was seen in patients with >6 vs. ≤6 HLA-mismatches (62.3 vs. 37.7%; p = 0.008). HLA compatibility is an independent risk factor associated with early SCI. Thus, transplant physicians should perhaps be more aware of HLA mismatching to reduce these early harmful lesions