Student academic performance stochastic simulator based on the Monte Carlo method

In this paper, a computer-based tool is developed to analyze student performance along a given curriculum. The proposed software makes use of historical data to compute passing/failing probabilities and simulates future student academic performance based on stochastic programming methods (MonteCarlo) according to the specific university regulations. This allows to compute the academic performance rates for the specific subjects of the curriculum for each semester, as well as the overall rates (the set of subjects in the semester), which are the efficiency rate and the success rate. Additionally, we compute the rates for the Bachelors degree, which are the graduation rate measured as the percentage of students who finish as scheduled or taking an extra year and the efficiency rate (measured as the percentage of credits of the curriculum with respect to the credits really taken). In Spain, these metrics have been defined by the National Quality Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (ANECA). Moreover, the sensitivity of the performance metrics to some of the parameters of the simulator is analyzed using statistical tools (Design of Experiments). The simulator has been adapted to the curriculum characteristics of the Bachelor in Engineering Technologies at the Technical University of Madrid(UPM)

Sports entrepreneurship during COVID-19: Technology as an ally to maintain the competitiveness of small businesses

The sports sector, specifically the field of personal trainer entrepreneurship, has been severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis. However, there are still few empirical studies that analyze how the actions taken before and during this crisis can affect sports entrepreneurs' performance. This research aims to analyze which combinations of sports entrepreneurs' personal characteristics and actions performed have been most and least effective in minimizing the negative impact of COVID-19 on their businesses. A validated online questionnaire was administered to personal trainer entrepreneurs from May to June 2020 before they reopened their facilities. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was performed to assess the impacts. The results show that both post-COVID measures (adaptation of the business model) and previous strategic orientation seemed essential. Specifically, high levels of sports entrepreneurs' resilience and innovation/R&D when competing against their closest competitors before the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased use of technologies (sports services digitization) during the pandemic have been essential to maintaining the performance of the sports business. Thus, improvements in the digital competencies of personal trainers' sports entrepreneurs, the devel- opment of strategic plans and activities related to innovation/R&D and process improvements are important measures to maintain the competitiveness of small sports businesses during crises

Relationship between Sedentary Time, Physical Activity, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Spanish Children

Higher sedentary time and lower physical activity (PA) are associated with a poor healthrelated quality of life (HRQoL) in children. The aims of this study were: (1) to analyze the sedentary time, objectively measured PA levels (light, moderate, vigorous, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)), and HRQoL dimensions (physical well-being, emotional well-being, self-esteem, family, friends, school, and total score) in children; and (2) to examine the association between sedentary time, PA levels, and HRQoL in children separately by sex. A total of 459 children (8.4 ± 0.4 years old, 50.54% males) from 15 schools in Granada (Spain) participated in the study. A tri-axial accelerometer was used to measure PA levels in the children for 7 consecutive days. The Revidierter KINDer Lebensqualitätsfragebogen (KINDL-R) questionnaire was used to determine the children’s HRQoL dimensions. The results showed that males presented more minutes engaged in MVPA than females. Both sedentary time and PA levels were associated with self-esteem and total score (all p < 0.05). In males, moderate and vigorous PA levels were associated with higher HRQoL, whereas light PA was associated with higher HRQoL in females. Future studies should take into account the use of activities with difference intensities in order to increase HRQoL in males and females.Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness DEP2015-63988-

Genetic Dissection of the Regulatory Network Associated with High c-di-GMP Levels in Pseudomonas putida KT2440

Most bacteria grow in nature forming multicellular structures named biofilms. The bacterial second messenger cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) is a key player in the regulation of the transition from planktonic to sessile lifestyles and this regulation is crucial in the development of biofilms. In Pseudomonas putida KT2440, Rup4959, a multidomain response regulator with diguanylate cyclase activity, when overexpressed causes an increment in the intracellular levels of c-di-GMP that gives rise to a pleiotropic phenotype consisting of increased biofilm formation and crinkly colony morphology. In a broad genomic screen we have isolated mutant derivatives that lose the crinkly morphology, designed as cfc (crinkle free colony). A total of 19 different genes have been identified as being related with the emergence of the cfc phenotype either because the expression or functionality of Rup4959 is compromised, or due to a lack of transduction of the c-di-GMP signal to downstream elements involved in the acquisition of the phenotype. Discernment between these possibilities was investigated by using a c-di-GMP biosensor and by HPLC-MS quantification of the second messenger. Interestingly five of the identified genes encode proteins with AAA+ ATPase domain. Among the bacterial determinants found in this screen are the global transcriptional regulators GacA, AlgU and FleQ and two enzymes involved in the arginine biosynthesis pathway. We present evidences that this pathway seems to be an important element to both the availability of the free pool of the second messenger c-di-GMP and to its further transduction as a signal for biosynthesis of biopolimers. In addition we have identified an uncharacterized hybrid sensor histidine kinase whose phosphoaceptor conserved histidine residue has been shown in this work to be required for in vivo activation of the orphan response regulator Rup4959, which suggests these two elements constitute a two-component phosphorelay system.This work was supported by grants BFU2010-17946 and BFU2013-43469-P from Plan Nacional de I+D+I (Spanish Government) and by EDFR funds. OH-R was supported by a FPI fellowship and LB-M by predoctoral fund from Junta de Andalucía. MAM was supported by the Postdoctoral Juan de la Cierva Spanish Research Program (JCI-2012-11815).Peer reviewedPeer Reviewe

Psychometric Characteristics of a Commuting-to-School Behaviour Questionnaire for Families

The purposes of this study were: (a) to describe the patterns of modes of commuting to school (children) and to work (parents) separated by gender and age, (b) to validate the questions on children’s mode of commuting to and from school according to their parents, and (c) to analyse the reliability of a family questionnaire focused on commuting to school behaviours. A total of 611 parents (mean age: 43.28 6.25 years old) from Granada (Spain) completed “Family commuting-to-school behaviour” questionnaire in two sessions separated by 14 days, (2016 and 2018). The validation between family and children’s questions was assessed using the Kappa and Spearman correlation coe cients, and the test–retest reliability within the family questions was assessed using the Kappa and the weighted Kappa. The children’s modes of commuting to school (mean age: 11.44 2.77 years old) were mainly passive (57.7% to school) while parents’ modes of commuting to work were mainly active (71.6%). The validity of the mode of commuting was significant with high Kappa and Spearman coe cients. The test–retest reliability presented a good agreement for the mode of commuting to school in children, distance and time to school, and the mode of commuting to work in parents, while the questions on acceptable distance to walk or cycle to school showed a moderate to good agreement. The “Family commuting-to-school behaviour” questionnaire could be a useful tool to assess the mode of commuting of children, distance and time to school for researchers and practitioners.Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and CompetitivenessEuropean Regional Development Fund (MINECO/FEDER, UE) DEP2016-75598-RUniversity of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigacion 2016, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES)Junta de AndalucíaEuropean Union (EU) SOMM17/6107/UGRJunta de AndalucíaEuropean Social Fund (ESF

Genome-wide analysis of targets for post-transcriptional regulation by Rsm proteins in Pseudomonas putida

Post-transcriptional regulation is an important step in the control of bacterial gene expression in response to environmental and cellular signals. Pseudomonas putida KT2440 harbors three known members of the CsrA/RsmA family of post-transcriptional regulators: RsmA, RsmE and RsmI. We have carried out a global analysis to identify RNA sequences bound in vivo by each of these proteins. Affinity purification and sequencing of RNA molecules associated with Rsm proteins were used to discover direct binding targets, corresponding to 437 unique RNA molecules, 75 of them being common to the three proteins. Relevant targets include genes encoding proteins involved in signal transduction and regulation, metabolism, transport and secretion, stress responses, and the turnover of the intracellular second messenger c-di-GMP. To our knowledge, this is the first combined global analysis in a bacterium harboring three Rsm homologs. It offers a broad overview of the network of processes subjected to this type of regulation and opens the way to define what are the sequence and structure determinants that define common or differential recognition of specific RNA molecules by these proteins.This work was supported by grants BFU2013-43469-P, BFU2016-80122-P and PID2019-109372GB-I00 from the Plan Estatal de I+D+I (Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and FEDER funds). Funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, United Kingdom (BB/R012415/1), and the University of Malaya (FRGS grant FP022-2018A and HIR grant H-50001-00-A000027) are also gratefully acknowledged

O1-4 Validation of questions to assess the mode of commuting to/from school for children according to their parents: the PACO study

Background The active commuting to school behaviour is an opportunity to increase the physical activity levels. The most frequent used tool to assess the mode of commuting to school is self-reporting by children or by their parents. However, there is a lack of information about the validity between both, children and parents. So, the purpose is to validate the questions of mode of commuting to go and come back from school of children according to their parents'. Method A total of 611 parents (mean age: 43.28±6.25 years old) and their children (mean age: 11.44±2.77 years old) from Granada (Spain) completed a family (mode of commuting of children reported by parents as part of the Family PACO questionnaire) and a student questionnaire validated (Chillon et al., 2017) (mode and frequency of commuting to and from school questionnaire), respectively, in two measurement points. The questions from the ‘Family PACO questionnaire' are: “How does your child usually go to school?” and “How does your child usually come back?”; and the questions from the ‘mode and frequency of commuting to and from school questionnaire' are: “How do you usually go to school?” and “How do you usually go from school?”. The validation between parents and childreńs questions was analysed using Kappa and Spearman correlation coefficients. The results of the kappa are considered as: poor agreement (0-0.20), acceptable agreement (0.21-0.40), moderate agreement (0.41-0.60), substantial agreement / good (0.61-0.80) and almost perfect / very good agreement (0.81-1.00) (Landis & Koch, 1977). The Spearman correlations coefficients were interpreted as low (> 0.30), moderate (0.30-0.50), and high (> 0.50) (Van Dyck, Cardon, Deforche, & De Bourdeaudhuij, 2015). Results The validity of questions from both questionnaires about mode of commuting presented high coefficients of validation (Kappa coefficient; 0.865 to school and 0.839 from school and Spearman correlation; rho=0.882 to school and rho=0.860 from school). Conclusion The questions about the mode of commuting to/from school from the ‘Family PACO questionnaire’ are valid method. Therefore, the use of the questions would be recommended to assess children's mode of commuting

Complete response under sorafenib in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: Relationship with dermatologic adverse events.

The clinical benefit of sorafenib in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been undervalued due to the absence of complete responses, even though patients who develop early dermatologic reactions have shown to have a positive outcome. In addition, sorafenib is described as an antiangiogenic drug, but it also acts on immunological cells. Thus, the goal of this study was to assess the complete response rate in a retrospective cohort of HCC patients treated with sorafenib and to describe the profile of the patients who achieve complete response for identifying factors related to this event and their connection with the immunological profile of sorafenib. Ten Spanish centers submitted cases of complete response under sorafenib. The baseline characteristics, development of early dermatologic reactions, and cause of treatment discontinuation were annotated. Radiological images taken before starting sorafenib, at first control, after starting sorafenib, at the time of complete response, and at least 1 month after treatment were centrally reviewed. Of the 1119 patients studied, 20 had been classified as complete responders by the centers, but eight of these patients were excluded after central review. Ten patients had complete disappearance of all tumor sites, and two had just a small residual fibrotic scar. Thus, 12 patients were classified as complete responders (58% HCV, median age 59.7 years, 83.4% Child-Pugh class A, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 91.7%, and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C 83.3%). The median overall survival and treatment duration were 85.8 and 40.1 months, respectively. All but one patient developed early dermatologic reactions, and seven patients discontinued sorafenib after achieving complete response due to adverse events, patient decision, or liver decompensation. CONCLUSION: Complete response affects 1% of patients with HCC who are treated with sorafenib. The association of complete response with early dermatologic reactions supports the role of a specific immune/inflammatory patient profile in the improved response to sorafenib

Investigación y docencia de las mujeres en carreras del sector de la Construcción en la Universidad de Granada y la Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya

Las carreras afectas al área de Ingeniería y Arquitectura en la construcción han tenido siempre una característica de sesgo de género, basada en percepciones sobre la condición innata de hombres y mujeres para estudiar o ejercer la profesión. Por ello, la imagen que se puede tener es una muy baja matriculación de mujeres, pero la realidad puede ser muy distinta. En este estudio se verificará la certeza de esta afirmación. Respecto a los docentes, también puede ocurrir que el porcentaje de mujeres sea muy bajo, aunque pueden variar dependiendo de la tipología de Departamento. Se entrecruzan muchas variables que pueden hacer o no verdad esta visión subjetiva. Por ello, este trabajo pretende obtener los datos necesarios para un análisis objetivo sobre el equilibrio o no de docentes, investigadoras y alumnas en estas carreras. Se ha buscado la información existente en rankings nacionales e internacionales para ver el comportamiento de la Universidad española y las carreras, por análisis por sexo y su equiparación con las carreras técnicas del sector de la Construcción. Entre las conclusiones a destacar están: En general, existe una diferencia entre el porcentaje de alumnas matriculadas en las carreras técnicas, que llega casi al 50% y las docentes mujeres, que no llegan a más del 20,00 % en la mayoría de las carreras. No obstante, el rendimiento de las alumnas en las carreras técnicas es mejor que el de los hombres, siendo su porcentaje de egresadas similar a las matriculadas, lo que demuestra que no existen diferencias apreciables por sexo en el aprendizaje de estas carreras técnicas. En el apartado de mujeres directoras de Centros y Departamentos se aprecia el “techo de cristal” que aún existe. El que a mayor nivel de acreditación académica o de puestos dentro de la Universidad, el porcentaje de mujeres disminuye drásticamente. Las causas son múltiples, pero no tienen que ver con las capacidades de las mujeres.Careers in construction engineering and architecture have always had a gender bias, based on perceptions about the innate condition of men and women to study or practice the profession. Therefore, the image one may have is a very low enrolment of women, but the reality may be very different. This study will verify the accuracy of this statement. With regard to teachers, it may also be the case that the percentage of women is very low, although this may vary depending on the type of department. Many variables are intertwined which may or may not make this subjective view true. For this reason, this work aims to obtain the necessary data for an objective analysis of the balance or otherwise of female lecturers, researchers and students in these degree programmes. Existing information has been sought in national and international rankings to see the behaviour of Spanish universities and careers, by gender analysis and its comparison with technical careers in the construction sector. Among the conclusions to be highlighted are: In general, there is a difference between the percentage of female students enrolled in technical careers, which reaches almost 50%, and female teachers, who do not reach more than 20.00% in most careers. However, the performance of female students in technical subjects is better than that of male students, with the percentage of female graduates being similar to that of female enrolled students, which shows that there are no appreciable differences by gender in the learning of these technical subjects. In the section on women directors of Centres and Departments, the "glass ceiling" that still exists can be seen. The higher the level of academic accreditation or positions within the university, the lower the percentage of women. There are many reasons for this, but they have nothing to do with women's abilities.Vicerrectorado de Igualdad, Inclusión y Sostenibilidad. Universidad de Granad