Desarrollo de Competencias. Caso Práctico: Estudiantes Voluntarios en Congreso Científico

El desarrollo de competencias transversales en un entorno de trabajo potencia las capacidades de integración de los estudiantes en el mundo laboral. El presente trabajo describe la experiencia de colaboración de estudiantes voluntarios en el pasado Congreso Ibérico de Agroingeniería y Ciencias Hortícolas celebrado en Madrid en el año 2013. El equipo de 15 voluntarios, compuesto por estudiantes procedentes de estudios de grado, ingenierías, máster y doctorado, desarrolló múltiples funciones de apoyo a la organización. Las funciones realizadas por los voluntarios supusieron una experiencia de aprendizaje activo en la que éstos pudieron desarrollar competencias relevantes para su futura vida laboral. Se proponen diversas competencias extraídas de las especificadas por la ETSI Agrónomos de la UPM para la evaluación de prácticas en empresa de sus estudiantes; en el RD 1393/2007, que establece la ordenación de las enseñanzas universitarias oficiales; en el Marco Español de Cualificaciones para la Educación Superior (MECES) y el Marco Europeo (EQF); y las establecidas por organizaciones como las sociedades europea y Americana para la formación de ingenieros (SEFI y ABET), relacionando las funciones llevadas a cabo por los voluntarios con las competencias desarrolladas. Finalmente se evalúa el desarrollo de estas competencias mediante la información recabada dentro del plan de calidad del congreso y que comprende la autoevaluación de los voluntarios junto con diversas en cuestas de valoración de resultados y satisfacción completadas, tanto por parte de los asistentes como de los moderadores de sesiones durante el congreso

Supervisión multidistribuida de transportes refrigerados mediante redes de sensores: diagramas de fases, una nueva metodología de análisis

El estudio de la variabilidad de la temperatura en cámaras frigoríficas y contenedores es un problema crítico en la industria alimentaria para el aseguramiento de la calidad de los productos durante el transporte, así como para minimizar las pérdidas. El objetivo de este trabajo es el desarrollo de una nueva metodología de análisis de datos basada en la reconstrucción del espacio de fases de la serie temporal de temperaturas, registradas por una red multidistribuida de sensores inalámbricos autónomos y de bajo coste

Supervisión multidistribuida de transportes refrigerados mediante tecnología inalámbrica: diagrama de fases una nueva metodología de análisis.

El estudio de los gradientes de temperatura en cámaras frigoríficas y contenedores es un problema crítico en la industria alimentaria para el aseguramiento de la calidad de los productos durante el transporte, así como para minimizar las pérdidas. El objetivo de este trabajo es el desarrollo de una nueva metodología de análisis de datos basada en la reconstrucción del espacio de fases de la serie temporal de temperaturas, registradas por una red multidistribuida de sensores inalámbricos autónomos y de bajo coste. Se monitorizó un transporte transoceánico en barco de limones en un contenedor multimodal refrigerado, desde Montevideo (Uruguay) a Cartagena (España), utilizando una red de 39 tarjetas RFID semi-pasivas TurboTag ®. El viaje completo incluyó el transporte transoceánico de larga distancia, un cambio de buque para un segundo transporte en barco de corta distancia y finalmente un viaje en camión hasta la central. El análisis de datos se basó en un estudio cualitativo de las series temporales mediante la representación de diagramas de fases calculados sobre la teoría de reconstrucción de atractores de Takens-Ruelle. El estrés de la fruta se cuantificó en términos del área que sobre el diagrama de fases ocupó el ciclo o atractor de la temperatura. Esta nueva metodología para el análisis de los datos pone de relieve la significativa heterogeneidad de las condiciones térmicas en diferentes puntos del contenedor

The economic burden of disease of epithelial ovarian cancer in Spain: the OvarCost study

bjective: To assess the economic burden of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in incident patients and the burden by disease stage in Spain. Methods: We developed a Markov model from a social perspective simulating the natural history of EOC and its four stages, with a 10-year time horizon, 3-week cycles, 3% discount rate, and 2016 euros. Healthcare resource utilization and costs were estimated by disease stage. Direct healthcare costs (DHC) included early screening, genetic counselling, medical visits, diagnostic tests, surgery, chemotherapy, hospitalizations, emergency services, and palliative care. Direct non-healthcare costs (DNHC) included formal and informal care. Indirect costs (IC) included labour productivity losses due to temporary and permanent leaves, and premature death. Epidemiology data and resource use were taken from the literature and validated for Spain by the OvarCost group using a Delphi method. Results: The total burden of EOC over 10 years was 3102 mill euros: 15.1% in stage I, 3.9% in stage II, 41.0% in stage III, and 40.2% in stage IV. Annual average cost/patient was 24,111 and it was 8,641; 14,184; 33,858, and 42,547 in stages I-IV, respectively. Of total costs, 71.2% were due to DHC, 24.7% to DNHC, and 4.1% to IC. Conclusions: EOC imposes a significant economic burden on the national healthcare system and society in Spain. Investment in better early diagnosis techniques might increase survival and patients' quality of life. This would likely reduce costs derived from late stages, consequently leading to a substantial reduction of the economic burden associated with EOC

Gestió de projectes experimentals al laboratori

Els plans d’estudi d'Enginyeria Química tenen assignatures troncals exclusivament de laboratori. Tot i així, la visió tradicional de la docència al laboratori continua essent la d’unes pràctiques complementàries a les assignatures teòriques. Tanmateix, es pot dotar aquestes assignatures d'un discurs propi basat en l’experimentació com a mètode i aprofitar el fet que el laboratori, a diferència de l'aula, és un escenari idoni per a l’aprenentatge i desenvolupament de competències, actituds i aptituds més enllà de la repetició del procés de mesura i del coneixement dels fonaments fisicoquímics dels fenòmens i processos que s’estudien. Des de fa més de deu anys l’Experimentació en Enginyeria Química de l’EUETIB s’ha plantejat com un procés de millora continua vers aquest objectiu. La formulació d’un pla estratègic que en gestionava la transformació va ser premiada el 2007 i actualment incorpora de manera explícita una sèrie de jocs de rol al laboratori orientats a l’aprenentatge de competències en l’àmbit de l’aplicació del mètode científic, la resolució de problemes, la gestió de projectes, la gestió de la qualitat i la millora contínua, la gestió de la seguretat i el medi ambient, la coavaluació i l’avaluació per a l’aprenentatge i la comunicació i el llenguatge.Peer Reviewe

Gestió de projectes experimentals al laboratori

Postprint (published version

Effectiveness of an intervention for improving drug prescription in primary care patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy:Study protocol of a cluster randomized clinical trial (Multi-PAP project)

This study was funded by the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias ISCIII (Grant Numbers PI15/00276, PI15/00572, PI15/00996), REDISSEC (Project Numbers RD12/0001/0012, RD16/0001/0005), and the European Regional Development Fund ("A way to build Europe").Background: Multimorbidity is associated with negative effects both on people's health and on healthcare systems. A key problem linked to multimorbidity is polypharmacy, which in turn is associated with increased risk of partly preventable adverse effects, including mortality. The Ariadne principles describe a model of care based on a thorough assessment of diseases, treatments (and potential interactions), clinical status, context and preferences of patients with multimorbidity, with the aim of prioritizing and sharing realistic treatment goals that guide an individualized management. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a complex intervention that implements the Ariadne principles in a population of young-old patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy. The intervention seeks to improve the appropriateness of prescribing in primary care (PC), as measured by the medication appropriateness index (MAI) score at 6 and 12months, as compared with usual care. Methods/Design: Design:pragmatic cluster randomized clinical trial. Unit of randomization: family physician (FP). Unit of analysis: patient. Scope: PC health centres in three autonomous communities: Aragon, Madrid, and Andalusia (Spain). Population: patients aged 65-74years with multimorbidity (≥3 chronic diseases) and polypharmacy (≥5 drugs prescribed in ≥3months). Sample size: n=400 (200 per study arm). Intervention: complex intervention based on the implementation of the Ariadne principles with two components: (1) FP training and (2) FP-patient interview. Outcomes: MAI score, health services use, quality of life (Euroqol 5D-5L), pharmacotherapy and adherence to treatment (Morisky-Green, Haynes-Sackett), and clinical and socio-demographic variables. Statistical analysis: primary outcome is the difference in MAI score between T0 and T1 and corresponding 95% confidence interval. Adjustment for confounding factors will be performed by multilevel analysis. All analyses will be carried out in accordance with the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: It is essential to provide evidence concerning interventions on PC patients with polypharmacy and multimorbidity, conducted in the context of routine clinical practice, and involving young-old patients with significant potential for preventing negative health outcomes. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02866799Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Tuberculosis and stigma: Impacts on health -seeking behaviors and access in Ciudad Juárez, México and El Paso, Texas

This exploratory research is a study of tuberculosis (TB) and health-related stigma which examines the experiences and perspectives on the disease from the vantage point of the Persons Affected by Tuberculosis (PATB). Research on the causes and sustainability of stigma will be useful to guide health and social interventions that reduce its effects. Also of importance is research that focuses on the behavioral and psychological as well as in the social context and dimensions of TB-related stigma. The personal experience of tuberculosis illustrates that an infectious disease entails much more than treatment involving medications, microbes and risk categories. Stigma associated with TB has been identified as a major barrier to health care access and to quality of life in TB management. This study of TB and stigma is the result of a triangulation of data from three different and complementary studies using corresponding methods of data collection and is organized into three distinct sections: (1) In-depth interviews with Persons Affected by TB and under treatment using a semi-structured interview guide, (2) In-depth interviews with TB Photovoice participants, and (3) Measuring TB-related stigma through the validation of the TB and HIV/AIDS stigma subscales, originally developed by Van Rie et al., (2008). The findings of this study may provide the basis for the future development of individual and structural stigma reduction interventions with Mexican-origin groups in order to ensure that persons affected by tuberculosis receive crucial preventive, diagnostic and treatment services that are free of stigma and discrimination. Study participants reported traditional beliefs and myths about tuberculosis TB symptoms. The participants presented issues of stigma associated with tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. They also reported on reliable and popular sources of health information. Participants presented their views regarding the barriers to TB care that include individual and social obstacles as identified in the “Tuberculosis and Stigma Study.” Finally, the scales used to measure the phenomenon of stigma related to TB and HIV/AIDS with Mexican-origin groups demonstrated strong psychometric properties. Factor analysis to identify the items of the scale that loaded best were performed and the internal consistency by Cronbach’s Alphas were very good to excellent. The dissertation concludes that tuberculosis is in many respects a social illness and that socioeconomic differentials and inequalities are strongly associated with its burden. Study findings have implications for: (1) informing health services and decision makers about how persons of Mexican-origin affected with TB in the United States-México border interpret their illness and stigma, (2) research on health related stigma and interventions, and (3) expanding and informing health-related theory on tuberculosis stigma and individual and structural stigma reduction interventions

Tuberculosis and Stigma: Impacts on Health-Seeking Behaviors and Access in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas.

This exploratory research is a study of tuberculosis (TB) and health-related stigma which examines the experiences and perspectives on the disease from the vantage point of the Persons Affected by Tuberculosis (PATB). Research on the causes and sustainability of stigma will be useful to guide health and social interventions that reduce its effects. Also of importance is research that focuses on the behavioral and psychological as well as in the social context and dimensions of TB-related stigma. The personal experience of tuberculosis illustrates that an infectious disease entails much more than treatment involving medications, microbes and risk categories. Stigma associated with TB has been identified as a major barrier to health care access and to quality of life in TB management. This study of TB and stigma is the result of a triangulation of data from three different, complementary studies using corresponding methods of data collection and is organized into three distinct sections: (1) In-depth interviews with Persons Affected by TB and under treatment using a semi-structured interview guide, (2) In-depth interviews with TB Photovoice participants, and (3) Measuring TB-related stigma through the validation of the TB and HIV/AIDS stigma subscales, originally developed by Van Rie et al., (2008). The findings of this study may provide the basis for the future development of individual and structural stigma reduction interventions with Mexican-origin groups in order to ensure that persons affected by tuberculosis receive crucial preventive, diagnostic and treatment services that are free of stigma and discrimination. Study participants reported traditional beliefs and myths about tuberculosis TB symptoms. The participants presented issues of stigma associated with tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. They also reported on reliable and popular sources of health information. Participants presented their views regarding the barriers to TB care that include individual and social obstacles as identified in the Tuberculosis and Stigma Study. Finally, the scales used to measure the phenomenon of stigma related to TB and HIV/AIDS with Mexican-origin groups demonstrated strong psychometric properties. Factor analysis to identify the items of the scale that loaded best were performed and the internal consistency by Cronbach\u27s Alphas were very good to excellent. The dissertation concludes that tuberculosis is in many respects a social illness and that socioeconomic differentials and inequalities are strongly associated with its burden. Study findings have implications for: (1) informing health services and decision makers about how persons of Mexican-origin affected with TB in the United States-México border interpret their illness and stigma, (2) research on health related stigma and interventions, and (3) expanding and informing health-related theory on tuberculosis stigma and individual and structural stigma reduction interventions

Adults Experiencing Homelessness in the US–Mexico Border Region: A Photovoice Project

Homelessness is a social, economic, and political crisis in the United States. In particular, the US–Mexico Border region has seen a surge of homelessness, specifically among veterans, women victims of intimate partner violence, and immigrants. In 2014, 12 persons in El Paso, TX, with experience of being homeless used the photovoice methodology to participate in a project titled, “The Voices and Images of the Residents of the Opportunity Center for the Homeless: A Visual Project on the Identity and Challenges Homeless Adults Face on the Border Region.” The project was led by faculty from the Department of Social Work and facilitated by graduate students from the Departments of Social Work, Sociology, and Anthropology at the University of Texas at El Paso. In partnership with the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, a community-based organization, a gallery of photographs with respective narratives was produced along with a video documentary. The participants identified four themes: broken systems, invisibility, opportunities and what works, and growth and determination. These themes represent participants’ life experiences with homelessness and their aspirations. In addition to the photo gallery, participants supported the development of a Call to Action asking the community, policy, and decision makers to commit to changing the current social, economic, and political conditions affecting individuals experiencing homelessness. The gallery, Call to Action, and overall participant experiences with photovoice were shared during local, regional, and national conferences and events, including three State of the Homeless Conferences led by the Opportunity Center for the Homeless in partnership with the university