Relationship between self-efficacy and anxiety towards science in high school studentes

El aprendizaje de las ciencias está determinado por factores personales, como la autoeficacia, que se manifiestan durante el estudio de materias de Física, Química, Biología y Ciencias de la Tierra y del Ambiente. En este trabajo se describe el tipo de relación entre la autoeficacia y la ansiedad ante las ciencias, para lo que se dispuso de una muestra aleatoria de alumnos del bachillerato (N = 215, con edades de 15 a 21 años) a los que, mediante encuesta tipo Likert, se les aplicó el instrumento de Autoeficacia General de Baessler y Schwarzer y el de Ansiedad ante las Ciencias de Britner y Pajares. Los resultados mostraron correlación en dirección negativa (d de Somers = -.305), con buen nivel de significancia (Sig. = .000) para las variables señaladas. La población analizada muestra índices positivos de autoficacia general, lo que explica los bajos niveles de ansiedad.Science learning is influenced by such personal factors as self-efficacy that are manifested during the study of subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Earth and Environmental Sciences. This study explores the relationship between self-efficacy and anxiety towards science in a random sample of high-school students (N = 215, ages from 15 to 21) to which the Baessler’s and Schwarcer’s Self-Efficacy Scale and the Britner’s and Pajares’ Scale of Anxiety towards Science were administered. Results show a negative correlation (Somers’ d = -0.305) with a good level of significance (Sig. = .000) between the variables examined. Students show positive indexes of general self-efficacy, which explain the low levels on anxiety

In vivo antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles produced via a green chemistry synthesis using Acacia rigidula as a reducing and capping agent

Introduction: One of the main issues in the medical field and clinical practice is the development of novel and effective treatments against infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. One avenue that has been approached to develop effective antimicrobials is the use of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), since they have been found to exhibit an efficient and wide spectrum of antimicrobial properties. Among the main drawbacks of using Ag-NPs are their potential cytotoxicity against eukaryotic cells and the latent environmental toxicity of their synthesis methods. Therefore, diverse green synthesis methods, which involve the use of environmentally friendly plant extracts as reductive and capping agents, have become attractive to synthesize Ag-NPs that exhibit antimicrobial effects against resistant bacteria at concentrations below toxicity thresholds for eukaryotic cells. Purpose: In this study, we report a green one-pot synthesis method that uses Acacia rigidula extract as a reducing and capping agent, to produce Ag-NPs with applications as therapeutic agents to treat infections in vivo. Materials and methods: The Ag-NPs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, selected area electron diffraction, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible, and Fourier transform infrared. Results: We show that Ag-NPs are spherical with a narrow size distribution. The Ag-NPs show antimicrobial activities in vitro against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and a clinical multidrug-resistant strain of P. aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) bacteria. Moreover, antimicrobial effects of the Ag-NPs, against a resistant P. aeruginosa clinical strain, were tested in a murine skin infection model. The results demonstrate that the Ag-NPs reported in this work are capable of eradicating pathogenic resistant bacteria in an infection in vivo. In addition, skin, liver, and kidney damage profiles were monitored in the murine infection model, and the results demonstrate that Ag-NPs can be used safely as therapeutic agents in animal models. Conclusion: Together, these results suggest the potential use of Ag-NPs, synthesized by green chemistry methods, as therapeutic agents against infections caused by resistant and nonresistant strains. Keywords: silver nanoparticles, green synthesis, in vitro antibacterial activity, in vivo antibacterial activity, skin infection, toxicological stud

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Primary spaces of social interaction and insecurity in Matamoros, Tamaulipas

This article reviews the importance of gathering places in strengthening the primary social groups of individuals over the age of 15 years within six families in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. The relationship between primary social groups and spaces of social interaction is contextualized in an environment of insecurity fostered by the existence and violence of criminal groups who have managed to involve themselves in a range of significant activities in the city. Together with structural factors, insecurity has helped lead to a reconfiguration of gathering places between young people and adults; private and semi-public spaces predominate, while the intensive use of certain public spaces in the city has diminished

Las formas de empleo en técnicos y profesionistas ubicados en la Zona Metropolitana de Monterrey (1994-2000)

La Zona Metropolitana de Monterrey (Z M M) se ha c a r a c t e rizado por albergar a grupos empre s a riales ind u s t riales con gran capacidad de adaptación ante los cambios en el mercado internacional.La crisis económica de los años ochenta no solamente llevó a reconsiderar el peso de la industria en la ZMM, sino que también re o rientó traye c t o rias laborales en los dife re ntes grupos ocupacionales: el cierre de la Fundidora de M o n t e rrey desplazó a más de seis mil trab a j a d o re s , mientras que la crisis de los corp o r at i vos como A L FA, Vi t ro y otros más, p rovocó el despido sorp re s i vo de más de tres mil trab a j a d o res de mandos administrat i vo s de niveles medianos y altos. Estos acontecimientos ref l e j aban síntomas de un proceso de re e s t ructuración del mercado lab o r a l . Los cambios en la distri bución de la fuerza de trabajo perm i t i e ron a los empleadore s ,p ri vados y públ i c o s , tener a su disposición una re s e rva mayor de trab a j a d o res con posibilidades de aceptar las nu evas modalidades flexibles del empleo, como el trabajo de tiempo parcial y el empleo temporal. Este art ículo indaga dife rentes aspectos de este proceso en los t r ab a j a d o res de alta escolari d a d . Se asume que las relaciones entre los trab a j a d o res y sus fo rmas de empleo, que se identifican con trabajos pre c a rios (de poca estabilidad e inseguros) están vinculados no solamente con los empleos de bajos ingresos monetari o

Flexibilidad y estrategias laborales de los profesionistas en la Zona Metropolitana de Monterrey

La restructuración económica en marcha desde la década de 1980 en la Zona Metropolitana de Monterrey (ZMM), ha impactado en la dinámica del mercado laboral. La movilidad laboral se ha alterado. Los trabajadores de alta escolaridad han mantenido su presencia creciente en el mercado laboral y han experimentado un aumento constante en sus jornadas laborales y una disminución de la cobertura de las prestaciones sociales vinculadas a los servicios médicos, principalmente. Por medio de una revisión de las estadísticas presentadas por la Encuesta Nacional de Empleo Urbano (eneu) este artículo busca resaltar algunas consecuencias en las condiciones de trabajo de los técnicos y profesionistas tomando en cuenta la caída en importancia de los empleos estables o por contrato indeterminad

Espacios de convivencia primaria e inseguridad en Matamoros, Tamaulipas

In this paper it is reviewed the importance of public spaces in strengthening primary social groups of inhabitants over the age of 15 years belonging to six families in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. It is contextualized the relationship between primary social groups and cohabitation spaces, in a climate of insecurity generated by the presence of violence and criminal groups that have succeeded to insert themselves in different important activities in town. Along with structural factors, insecurity has helped to reconfigure meeting places among young and adult people, prevailing private and semi-public spaces and decreasing the intensive use of public spaces in the city.En este escrito se revisa la importancia de los espacios públicos en el fortalecimiento de los grupos sociales primarios de habitantes mayores de 15 años pertenecientes a seis familias en Matamoros Tamaulipas. Se contextualiza, la relación entre grupos sociales primarios y espacios de convivencia, en un ambiente de inseguridad propiciada por la existencia de la violencia y de grupos criminales que han logrado involucrarse en diferentes actividades importantes de la ciudad. Junto a factores estructurales, la inseguridad, ha ayudado a que se reconfiguren los lugares de encuentro entre jóvenes y adultos; predominando los espacios privados y semipúblicos y disminuyendo el uso intensivo de ciertos espacios públicos de la ciudad