New tools for online teaching and their impact on student learning

[EN] In the context of the global Covid-19 crisis, a practical introductory Geosciences course was redesigned to aid student learning in a 100% virtual format. New materials were created to i) improve disciplinary language range and concept acquisition; ii) make classes more dynamic; iii) provide tools for self-regulated learning and assessment and iv) maintain student motivation. Usefulness of the new materials was evaluated using a voluntary online survey that was answered by 40% of the students. Additional information was obtained from the university's student evaluation survey. All tools were well-rated, but self-assessment quizzes and class presentations had the highest overall scores. Students commented on their usefulness in terms of knowledge acquisition and self-assessment. Perhaps not surprisingly, self-assessment quizzes were the one tool students felt kept them more motivated. These were closely followed by class presentations and short in-class quizzes. Students found the online access to all lesson materials very useful for self-paced learning. According to a majority of students, the in-class quizzes and student participation using the digital the whiteboard made classes more dynamic. Overall, the new strategies succeeded in improving students' learning and independence, but more work is needed to make classes more dynamic, and especially to improve student motivation. Intrinsic motivation is perhaps the most difficult to improve because in a 100% virtual course, it is difficult to promote student-student interactions and receive visual feedback from the class. In view of the survey results, we introduce bonus activities in order to improve extrinsic motivation.Huguet, C.; Pearse, J.; Esteve, J. (2021). New tools for online teaching and their impact on student learning. En 7th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'21). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 163-170. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd21.2021.12811OCS16317

Factors influencing publication of scientific articles derived from masters theses in public health

Objectives: To evaluate theses of a Masters program in Public Health (MPH), in terms of the students' and theses' characteristics that influence publication of the thesis as a scientific article. Methods: Longitudinal study of students who successfully completed the MPH at Universitat Pompeu Fabra and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain) from 2006 to 2010. Participants completed an electronic survey and additional data were gathered from university files. Results: 162 students participated in the study (83 % response rate). 60.5 % had already published an article derived from their thesis at the time of the study or were in process of publishing it. The likelihood of publishing in a peer-reviewed journal was greater among women (aRR = 1.41), among those who had a bachelor's degree in sciences other than health (aRR = 1.40), had completed the MPH on time (aRR = 2.10), had enrolled in a doctoral program after the MPH (aRR = 1.44) or had a masters thesis score of ≥7 (aRR = 1.61). Conclusions: The majority of MPH students published their thesis in a peer-reviewed journal. The strongest predictors of successful publication were related to academic performance

El papel de la promoción de la salud para hacer frente a las desigualdades en salud

La Promoción de la Salud es el proceso que proporciona a las poblaciones los medios necesarios para ejercer un mayor control sobre su propia salud y así poder mejorarla. La Promoción de la Salud tiene un importante papel en la lucha contra las desigualdades en salud. Los responsables de salud pública han intentado introducir diferentes medidas para promocionar estilos de vida saludables y reducir las diferencias sociales. Estas medidas deberían incluir también cambios estructurales tanto en el ámbito legislativo y fiscal, como organizativos y de desarrollo comunitario. La Promoción de la Salud comprende acciones dirigidas a informar sobre las posibilidades de decisión individual y familiar, así como a fomentar la participación responsable de los ciudadanos en actividades comunitarias decisivas encaminadas a proteger su derecho a la salud. Este enfoque tiene como fin alcanzar la equidad en materia de salud

A vueltas con revisiones

Una vez más estamos aquí. Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivée es la noticia que cada año, hacia mediados de noviembre, esperan los admiradores de ese especial vino francés. Desde la debida modestia, nos gustaría que nuestros lectores esperasen también ilusionados la aparición del suplemento anual de Revisiones hacia finales de año

Biocompatibility and Electrical Stimulation of Skeletal and Smooth Muscle Cells Cultured on Piezoelectric Nanogenerators

Altres ajuts: Fundació la Caixa: LCF/BQ/PR19/11700010Nanogenerators are interesting for biomedical applications, with a great potential for electrical stimulation of excitable cells. Piezoelectric ZnO nanosheets present unique properties for tissue engineering. In this study, nanogenerator arrays based on ZnO nanosheets are fabricated on transparent coverslips to analyse the biocompatibility and the electromechanical interaction with two types of muscle cells, smooth and skeletal. Both cell types adhere, proliferate and differentiate on the ZnO nanogenerators. Interestingly, the amount of Zn ions released over time from the nanogenerators does not interfere with cell viability and does not trigger the associated inflammatory response, which is not triggered by the nanogenerators themselves either. The local electric field generated by the electromechanical nanogenerator-cell interaction stimulates smooth muscle cells by increasing cytosolic calcium ions, whereas no stimulation effect is observed on skeletal muscle cells. The random orientation of the ZnO nanogenerators, avoiding an overall action potential aligned along the muscle fibre, is hypothesised to be the cause of the cell-type dependent response. This demonstrates the need of optimizing the nanogenerator morphology, orientation and distribution according to the potential biomedical use. Thus, this study demonstrates the cell-scale stimulation triggered by biocompatible piezoelectric nanogenerators without using an external source on smooth muscle cells, although it remarks the cell type-dependent response

Conflict of interest in science communication: more than a financial issue. Report from Esteve Foundation discussion group, April 2009

A systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that around 2% of scientists admit to have falsified research at least once. Up to 33% admit other questionable practices such as plagiarism, duplicate publication, undisclosed changes in pre-research protocols or dubious ethical behavior. There can be no doubt that discovered cases of research and publication misconduct represent a tip of an iceberg and many cases go unreported

El Diagnóstico de daños en grupos hidroeléctricos mediante el análisis de vibraciones

[ES] El análisis del comportamiento vibratorio de Grupos Hidroeléctricos se puede utilizar para el diagnóstico del estado de la máquina. Se pretende detectar daños incipientes y poder seguir la evolución del estado de la máquina para evitar roturas catastróficas y planificar de forma conveniente el Mantenimiento. El tema es de gran actualidad debido a que, con la automatización de los Grupos, las centrales quedan desatendidas y se precisan sistemas de diagnóstico más precisos para mantener la seguridad de funcionamiento. Para proceder a un diagnóstico, es necesario conocer cómo es el comportamiento vibratorio de los grupos, desde las excitaciones iniciales hasta la vibración resultante final. Las técnicas utilizadas comprenden técnicas experimentales sofisticadas y aproximaciones teóricas. En este artículo se introducen las más importantes y se comentan algunos casos reales encontrados en grupos instalados.Los autores agradecen a la CAYCIT (Proyecto TAP94 0653) y a las empresas EASA (Pie Vibraciones) FECSA y ENHER la financiación y facilidades para poder realizar el seguimiento y análisis de varios grupos hidroeléctricos.Egusquiza Estévez, E.; Paula Nascimento, L.; Valero Ferrando, C.; Jou Santacreu, E. (1994). El Diagnóstico de daños en grupos hidroeléctricos mediante el análisis de vibraciones. Ingeniería del Agua. 1(3):69-80. https://doi.org/10.4995/ia.1994.2645SWORD698013Bolleter U. (1993) "Interactíons dynamiques entre la pompe et le réseau de tuyauteríes", Intern. Conf. Bruit et vibrations des pompes. SHF Clamart (París), pp 3-10.Chen Y N, (1961) "Oscillations of water pressure in the spiral casing of storage pumps" Sulzer Tech. Review pp 21-34Doerfler, P. (1984) "On the Role of Phase Resonance in vibration causea by blade passage in radial hydraulic turbomachines". Proc. IAHR Symposium. Stirling, pp 228-241Egusquiza, E. (1993) Capítulos 1-2-5 Manual Mantenimiento Predictivo Proyecto PIE Vibraciones.Egusquiza, E. (1989) "Condition Monitoríng of Hydraulic Machinery by Noise analysis techniques. The cument state of technology in Hydraulic Machinery". Gower Technical Press,pp 245-257Egusquiza E. Boldy, A. (1991) "Analysis ofPressure Fluctuations and vibrations in punp-turbine. Field results". IAHR Congress Madrid, pp D 211-220.Egusquiza E., De Paula L. (1994) "Vibration Diagnostic of a Francis Turbine" 17th IAHR Symposium. Beijing.Egusquiza E. De Paula L (1994) "Fault Detection in Hydropower Plañís" IMEKO Intern. Congress Tormo 5th, pp 1231-36.Egusquiza, E. Santolaria, C. (1989) "On-line control of Hydraulic Machinery", Intern. Svmposium on Large HvdraulicMachinerv. IRCHM-IECBSHM, Beijing.Egusquiza E. Saura M.J. (1992) "Analysis and Diagnostic of Francis Turbine Problems" Proc. 16th IAHR Symposium, Sao Paulo Brasil, pp 227-236Egusquiza E, Stepanik H (1993) "Systematic Condition Monitoríng and Diagnosis of Hydraulic Turbines" Water Power ínter. Conference "Uprating and Refurbishing Hydro Powerplants"Florence pp. 179-189Egusquiza E, White M (1994) "Analysis and diagnostic of pump problems" 8th Intern. Symposium on technical diagnostics. Dresden Alemania 23 September, pp 522-531Egusquiza E. White M. (1993) "Systematic Diagnostic ofPump Vibration Problems" Proc. Conf. Bruit et Vibrations des Pompes. SHF. Clamart (France). pp 381-388.Tanaka (1990) "Vibration behaviour and dynamic stress of runners of very high head reversible pump-turbines" I Intern. Svmp. IAHR BelgradoWylie & Streeter (1993) "Fluid transients" McGraw Hill

Lysyl oxidase-dependent extracellular matrix crosslinking modulates calcification in atherosclerosis and aortic valve disease

Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular calcification; Lysyl oxidaseAterosclerosis; Calcificación cardiovascular; Lisil oxidasaAterosclerosi; Calcificació cardiovascular; Lisil oxidasaExtracellular matrix (ECM) is an active player in cardiovascular calcification (CVC), a major public health issue with an unmet need for effective therapies. Lysyl oxidase (LOX) conditions ECM biomechanical properties; thus, we hypothesized that LOX might impact on mineral deposition in calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) and atherosclerosis. LOX was upregulated in calcified valves from two cohorts of CAVD patients. Strong LOX immunostaining was detected surrounding calcified foci in calcified human valves and atherosclerotic lesions colocalizing with RUNX2 on valvular interstitial cells (VICs) or vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Both LOX secretion and organized collagen deposition were enhanced in calcifying VICs exposed to osteogenic media. β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), an inhibitor of LOX, attenuated collagen deposition and calcification. VICs seeded onto decellularized matrices from BAPN-treated VICs calcified less than cells cultured onto control scaffolds; instead, VICs exposed to conditioned media from cells over-expressing LOX or cultured onto LOX-crosslinked matrices calcified more. Atherosclerosis was induced in WT and transgenic mice that overexpress LOX in VSMC (TgLOXVSMC) by AAV-PCSK9D374Y injection and high-fat feeding. In atherosclerosis-challenged TgLOXVSMC mice both atherosclerosis burden and calcification assessed by near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging were higher than in WT mice. These animals also exhibited larger calcified areas in atherosclerotic lesions from aortic arches and brachiocephalic arteries. Moreover, LOX transgenesis exacerbated plaque inflammation, and increased VSMC cellularity, the rate of RUNX2-positive cells and both connective tissue content and collagen cross-linking. Our findings highlight the relevance of LOX in CVC and postulate this enzyme as a potential therapeutic target for CVC.We thank the technical support provided by Silvia Aguiló. This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (RTI2018-094727-B-100 and PID2021-122509OB-I00 funded by MCIN/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII; Spain; PI21/01048), and Fundación Española de Arteriosclerosis (FEA-2022). C.B-S and L.P-U were supported by a FPU (Ministerio de Universidades; Spain), and PFIS (ISCIII) fellowships, respectively and N.L-A by a Miguel Servet contract (ISCIII). There is no financial or personal relationship with organizations that could potentially influence the described research