University of Extremadura
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The protection motivation theory as an explanatory model for intention to use alcohol protective behavioral strategies related to the manner of drinking among young adults
No full textAims. This study aimed to prospectively examine the explanatory value of the protection motivation theory (PMT) for the intention to use manner of drinking protective behavioral strategies (MD PBS) and to explore its invariance across genders. Method. A targeted sampling procedure was used to recruit 339 young adults in the community (Mage = 21.1; SD = 2.21; female = 50.7%) who completed baseline and 2-month follow-up measures of the PMT constructs and intentions to use each of the five MD PBS. Results. Regression analyses revealed that the coping appraisal components (response efficacy and self-efficacy) had greater explanatory power for the intention to use MD PBS than the threat appraisal components (perceived vulnerability and perceived severity). Perceived vulnerability to alcohol consequences was not prospectively associated with any specific behavioral intention or with the total MD PBS score. In contrast, perceived severity was prospectively associated with the intention to use three out of five PBS and the total MD score. Regression coefficients revealed gender invariance for all six models. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that interventions aimed at encouraging young adults to use alcohol MD PBS would be most effective if they included components that enhance self-efficacy in using these strategies and emphasize their perceived usefulness in reducing alcohol-related consequencesThis work was supported by the Consejería de Salud (Junta de Andalucía; Andalucía; Spain) under grant number PI-0503-2018 (Principal Investigator: F.F.C.).peerReviewe
Pre-service teachers' projects for digitalized primary school CLIL classrooms: Approximating integration through Project-Based Learning and Scaffolding
No full textPublicado en Ramírez-Verdugo, M.D. (Ed.). (2024). Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation in Bilingual and Second Language Teacher Education (1st ed.). Pp. 90-119. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003350217A key consideration in language education these days is the need to adequately prepare bilingual or CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) teachers, where we define both as teaching content in a foreign language, for the unique challenges of their future classrooms. Bilingual classrooms involve complex interactions between the integration of content and language learning that include the opportunity to work on critical thinking skills and communicative interaction (Onoda, 2019), which future teachers should be prepared to manage. A common area of concern has been linguistic competence, in terms of how wellprepared pre-service teachers are to use the foreign language in the classroom, but scant attention is paid to how we should prepare pre-service bilingual teachers to manage teaching complex content in the FL in a way that integrates both language and content for deeper and more active learning. In this sense, much ado has been made about what it means to “do” CLIL, but rarely do we examine the best tools for “doing” it well from a didactic perspective or how to work on these tools with pre-service teachers for their future classrooms. This paper investigates how successfully future teachers, under a Project Based Learning framework (Buck Institute of Education, n.d) including ICT and taking into consideration the new educational legislative framework for competences (LOMLOE) and current pedagogical holidays (DOE, 2021), designed and presented projects on key competences for hypothetical primary school students, focusing on content as well as linguistic objectives, just as they would have to do in any future bilingual primary school classroom. Results highlight that in general pre-service teachers used ICT, PBL and scaffolding in traditional and somewhat minimalistic ways that focus on teachers’ presentations of information rather than student activity and engagement with content through the L2. Suggestions are presented for further research.This research was made possible by the Erasmus+ Program of the European Union, in the project entitled IDEAL (Integrating Digital Education in Adult Language Teaching: Project number: 2019-1-DE02-KA204-006523)peerReviewe
Analysis of the knowledge and use of problem solving and digital security of teachers from Extremadura
No full textLa presencia tecnológica está cada vez más presente en las instituciones educativas. Esto implica que el profesorado deba formarse y adquirir las competencias necesarias para un uso eficiente, destacando competencias que parecen no tener una clara importancia para el desempeño docente, tanto en la literatura científica, como para las administraciones públicas, como son la seguridad digital y la resolución de problemas. Este estudio plantea dar respuesta al objetivo general de investigación: Analizar el conocimiento y uso de la seguridad digital y la resolución de los problemas tecnológicos en los docentes de Extremadura. Para el desarrollo de la investigación, se ha utilizado una metodología cuantitativa, con un diseño de investigación no experimental transversal, donde se realizó un análisis de datos descriptivo e inferencial. A través de un muestreo aleatorio simple, se seleccionó una muestra representativa de 400 docentes que imparten docencia en Extremadura. Para la toma de datos, se ha utilizado un cuestionario ad-hoc para la evaluación diagnóstica de la competencia digital docente. Los resultados destacan la importancia actual de la seguridad digital debido a los avances tecnológicos y las amenazas cibernéticas, que pueden causar daños económicos, de privacidad y reputación. La resolución de problemas es esencial en la labor docente, permitiendo mejorar el desempeño y el aprendizaje de los estudiantes. Se observa que los docentes valoran el conocimiento y uso responsable de las tecnologías digitales, así como la gestión en la “nube” y el uso de herramientas digitales para la evaluación y seguimiento del alumnado. Se han encontrado diferencias en función del género, la titulación máxima y los habitantes del municipio en la seguridad digital y en función de la edad, experiencia docente y titulación máxima en la resolución de problemas.The technological presence is increasingly present in educational institutions. This implies that teachers must train and acquire the necessary skills for efficient use, highlighting skills that do not seem to have a clear importance for teaching performance, both in scientific literature and for public administrations, such as digital security and Problem resolution. This study aims to respond to the general research objective: Analyze the knowledge and use of digital security and the resolution of technological problems in teachers in Extremadura. For the development of the research, a quantitative methodology has been used, with a non-experimental crosssectional research design, where a descriptive and inferential data analysis was carried out. Through simple random sampling, a representative sample of 400 teachers who teach in Extremadura was selected. To collect data, an ad-hoc questionnaire was used for the diagnostic evaluation of teaching digital competence. The results highlight the current importance of digital security due to technological advances and cyber threats, which can cause economic, privacy and reputational damage. Problem solving is essential in teaching work, allowing students to improve their performance and learning. It is observed that teachers value knowledge and responsible use of digital technologies, as well as management in the “cloud” and the use of digital tools for the evaluation and monitoring of students. Differences have been found depending on gender, maximum qualification and the inhabitants of the municipality in digital security and depending on age, teaching experience and maximum qualification in problem solving.Extendemos nuestro más sincero agradecimiento por el apoyo recibido para esta investigación por parte del
grupo de investigación Ciberdidact, así como del Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional y de la Junta de ExtremadurapeerReviewe
Compositional and functional analysis of the bacterial community of Mediterranean Leptosols under livestock grazing
No full textThe composition and functioning of soil bacterial communities, as well as their responses to multiple perturbations, are not well understood in the terrestrial ecosystems. Our study focuses on the bacterial community of erosive and poorly developed soils (Haplic Leptosols) in Mediterranean rangelands of Extremadura (W Spain) with different grazing intensities. Leptosols from similar natural conditions were selected and sampled at two depths to determine the soil properties as well as the structure and activity of bacterial communities. As grazing intensified, the soil C and N content increased, as did the number and diversity of bacteria, mainly of fast-growing lineages. Aridibacter, Acidobacteria Gp6 and Gp10, Gemmatimonas, and Segetibacter increased their abundance along the grazing-intensity gradient. Firmicutes such as Romboutsia and Turicibacter from livestock microbiome also increased. In functional terms, the KEGG pathways enriched in the soils with moderate and high grazing intensity were ABC transporters, DNA repair and recombination proteins, the two-component system, and the degradation of xenobiotics. All of these proved to be related to stronger cell division and response mechanisms to environmental stressors such as drought, warming, toxic substances, and nutrient deprivation. Consequently, the bacterial community was affected by grazing, but appeared to adapt and counteract the effects of a high grazing intensity. Therefore, a clearly detrimental effect of grazing was not detected in the bacterial community of the soils studied.This work was supported by the European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR and the Research Project IB16052 funded by Junta de Extremadura and European Union. Also by Research Projects CALSUMIC, PID2020-120481RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, Spain, BIORESOC (CGL2017-88734-R) from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, BIOQUALIRES-PID2021-127591OB-100/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, UE and CLIMARESTOR-TED2021-132687B-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/peerReviewe
Virtual reality applied to heritage in higher education - Validation of a questionnaire to evaluate usability learning and emotions
No full textCultural heritage is one of the areas where Extended Reality is having a significant impact nowadays. Although often associated with entertainment, this technology has enormous educational potential when applied to heritage. Therefore, it is essential to implement monitoring tools in educational practice to assess its actual effectiveness. This article presents the process of generating and validating a statistical data collection instrument developed to evaluate a virtual reality experience created using the archaeological heritage of the ancient Roman city of Augusta Emerita (Mérida, Spain). It can be easily adapted to evaluate similar experiences. The aim is to gauge the effectiveness of these experiences as a didactic resource. The questionnaire was subjected to an evaluation of its three dimensions. Content validity was analyzed through expert judgments, while applicability was tested by students. Finally, a series of statistical tests were conducted to verify construct reliability and internal consistency. Based on the results obtained and cross-referenced with the data provided by the literature, the suitability of this tool for collecting data on usability, learning, and emotions in virtual reality experiences is confirmed.This research was funded by the Consejería de Economía, Ciencia y Agenda Digital (Junta de Extremadura) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) “A way to make Europe”, grant number IB20172, and the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades), grant number PID2020-114954GB-I00.peerReviewe
Contribución de las sociedades cooperativas agroalimentarias al desarrollo territorial en Extremadura mediante un análisis multivariante: propuesta de un índice para su medición
No full textPrograma de doctorado en Economía y EmpresaEl interés y la preocupación por el desarrollo de los territorios, fundamentalmente de las áreas rurales, viene siendo una constante desde el pasado siglo. No obstante, en la actualidad, dicha preocupación se alinea con las políticas, medidas y estratégicas que se desarrollan desde la Unión Europea y desde España y que se concretan en la consecución de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de la Agenda 2030 y en la Estrategia de Desarrollo 2050.
En este contexto de protección de áreas rurales, de apertura de mercados producida por la globalización de la economía, de innovación y escalabilidad las sociedades cooperativas, en concreto, las sociedades cooperativas agroalimentarias desarrollan un papel decisivo en el desarrollo de los territorios. Sus principios, sus valores y sus características, las convierten en motores de desarrollo territorial por su contribución a una mejor integración, cohesión social y arraigo al territorio.
En la convergencia de estos dos bloques se desarrolla esta tesis que procura conocer esta realidad, y lo hace, en concreto, sobre la Comunidad Autónoma de Extremadura. La base del análisis es, por tanto, si las sociedades cooperativas de esta comunidad autónoma son motores de desarrollo territorial.
El estudio se basa en una metodología cuantitativa mediante un análisis multivariante, un análisis de Clúster o Conglomerados y, finalmente, el diseño de Índice de Desarrollo Territorial que mida la contribución de las sociedades cooperativas de la Comunidad de Extremadura a la dinamización social y económica de la región.Interest and concern for the development of territories, particularly rural areas, have been a constant since the past century. However, today this concern aligns with the policies, measures, and strategies developed by the European Union and Spain, which focus on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda and the 2050 Development Strategy.
In this context of rural area protection, market opening caused by the globalization of the economy, innovation, and scalability, cooperative societies, especially agri-food cooperatives, play a decisive role in territorial development. Their principles, values, and characteristics make them drivers of territorial development due to their contribution to
better integration, social cohesion, and attachment to the land.
This thesis is developed at the convergence of these two areas, aiming to understand this reality specifically in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura. Therefore, the analysis is based on whether the cooperative societies in this region are drivers of territorial development.
The study is based on a quantitative methodology using multivariate analysis, Clúster analysis, and finally, the design of a Territorial Development Index that measures the contribution of the cooperative societies of the Extremadura region to the social and economic dynamization of the region
Estudio del papel de Caveolina-1 en el epitelio respiratorio
No full textMemoria del proyecto, 34 p. (.pdf)Caveolina-1 es una proteína asociada a las membranas celulares, constituyente principal de unas estructuras de membrana de nombre similar, las caveolas. Gracias a su posición y a varios de sus dominios, es capaz de interactuar con otras proteínas pertenecientes a varias rutas de señalización. Recientes estudios han determinado la capacidad de esta para interactuar de forma directa o indirecta con la vía de señalización Notch, teniendo también un papel determinante en la diferenciación celular del epitelio respiratorio. Mediante inmunofluorescencia y RT-qPCR se han medido los niveles de expresión de los diferentes marcadores moleculares para las células del epitelio respiratorio, tanto en ratones Wild Type como Knock Out para Caveolina-1. De esta manera se ha podido determinar el papel regulador de Caveolina-1 en la diferenciación de las células multiciliadas, secretoras Club y, posiblemente en la regulación de un nuevo tipo de células similares a las anteriores, Hillock Club, cuyo papel en el epitelio respiratorio aún está por determinar. Postulándose, en este estudio, la proteína Caveolina-1 como una diana farmacológica para el tratamiento de diferentes afecciones respiratorias, como el asma o la infección por SARS-Cov-2, entre otras.Caveolin-1 is a cell membrane-associated protein, a major constituent of similarly named membrane structures, the caveolae. Thanks to its position and several of its domains, it is able to interact with numerous other proteins belonging to various signalling pathways. Recent studies have determined its ability to interact directly or indirectly with the Notch signalling pathway, also playing a key role in respiratory epithelial cell differentiation. Using immunofluorescence and RT-qPCR the expression levels of the different molecular markers for respiratory epithelial cells have been measured in both Wild Type and Caveolin-1 knock out mice. In this way we have been able to determine the regulatory role of Caveolin-1 in the differentiation of multi-ciliated, Club-secreting cells and possibly in the regulation of a new type of Club-like cell, Hillock Club, whose role in the respiratory epithelium remains to be determined. In this study, the Caveolin-1 protein is postulated as a pharmacological target for the treatment of different respiratory conditions, such as asthma or SARS-Cov-2 infection, among others.Grado en Biología. Universidad de Extremadur
Enhancing Robotic Perception through Synchronized Simulation and Physical Common-Sense Reasoning
No full textWe introduce both conceptual and empirical findings arising from the amalgamation of a robotics cognitive architecture with an embedded physics simulator, aligning with the principles outlined in the intuitive physics literature. The employed robotic cognitive architecture, named CORTEX, leverages a highly efficient distributed working memory known as deep state representation. This working memory inherently encompasses a fundamental ontology, state persistency, geometric and logical relationships among elements, and tools for reading, updating, and reasoning about its contents. Our primary objective is to investigate the hypothesis that the integration of a physics simulator into the architecture streamlines the implementation of various functionalities that would otherwise necessitate extensive coding and debugging efforts. Furthermore, we categorize these enhanced functionalities into broad types based on the nature of the problems they address. These include addressing challenges related to occlusion, model-based perception, self-calibration, scene structural stability, and human activity interpretation. To demonstrate the outcomes of our experiments, we employ CoppeliaSim as the embedded simulator and both a Kinova Gen3 robotic arm and the Open-Manipulator-P as the real-world scenarios. Synchronization is maintained between the simulator and the stream of real events. Depending on the ongoing task, numerous queries are computed, and the results are projected into the working memory. Participating agents can then leverage this information to enhance overall performance.This work has been partially funded by TED2021-131739-C22, supported by Spanish MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union’s NextGenerationEU/PRTR, by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation PDC2022-133597-C41 and by FEDER Project 0124 EUROAGE+ 4 E (2021-2027 POCTEP Program) and CSIC and CAP from Universidad de la República. This article is part of the project PID2022-137344OB-C31, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, UE.peerReviewe
Systematic Review of the Psychopathological Symptomatology and Neuropsychological Disorders of Chronic Primary Musculoskeletal Pain
No full textChronic pain can develop without tissue damage, injury, or underlying illness. There are several intervening biological, psychological, and social factors involved in its appearance that significantly affect the activities of daily life. It is also associated with significant emotional anxiety and/or functional disability. This review systematically analyses works published in the last five years that evaluate the psychopathological symptomatology and neuropsychological disorders of chronic primary musculoskeletal pain (CPMP). A bibliographic search was carried out to identify articles published in English between January 2018 and March 2023 using the Medline, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Pubmed databases. Twenty articles were obtained using the PRISMA selection method. The main results of this study provided evidence of the presence of moderate and severe chronic pain in patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain. This increase in the intensity of pain correlates with greater psychopathological symptomatology, such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, lack of attention and hyperactivity/impulsiveness, as well as the use of maladaptive coping strategies. Furthermore,
there exists dysfunction in the cerebral structures related to attention and the processing of pain in patients with CPMP. This review may help to develop and optimise the multidisciplinary treatments adapted to the deficits caused by this illness.peerReviewe
Ideas previas y utilidades percibidas por docentes en formación sobre la Inteligencia Artificial: estudio descriptivo
No full textEn los últimos años hemos observado cómo la Inteligencia Artística (IC) se ha introducido en diversos ámbitos de nuestra vida. Este desarrollo no se detiene ni siquiera en el ámbito de la educación, en el que la introducción de este tipo de herramientas tiene efectos más amplios en la relación entre el amor y el odio con respecto a sus posibilidades. El objetivo de este estudio es describir el conocimiento y el uso de la IC por parte de los estudiantes universitarios en el ámbito de la educación. Para ello, se ha utilizado un método cuantitativo, en el que el fragmento es el instrumento utilizado para recopilar información. El Fragmento se elaboró ad hoc, por lo que se llevó a cabo un estudio piloto para comprobar su utilidad y fiabilidad con la participación de un total de 38 estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias Humanas y Psicología de la Universidad de Extremadura. Los resultados muestran que la mayoría de ellos conocen el KI y lo han utilizado durante algún tiempo para obtener información o crear asociaciones. También desean que el proceso de aprendizaje les resulte útil, ya que fomenta la personalización del aprendizaje y la mejora de la calidad de la enseñanza. La mayoría de ellos desean, sin embargo, que se regule su uso para garantizar una utilización ética y mejorar la transparencia de los datos obtenidos y utilizados. En este sentido, la formación de los trabajadores es esencial.In recent years, we are witnessing the arrival of artificial intelligence (AI) in different areas of our lives. This issue does not develop apart from the educational field, in which the arrival of this type of tools has generated contradictory feelings between love and hate to its potentialities. The objective of this study is to describe the degree of knowledge and use of AI by university students in the field of Education. To achieve this, a quantitative methodology is used, being the questionnaire the instrument chosen to collect the information. It has been designed ad hoc, so a pilot test is used to verify its validity and reliability with the participation of a total of 38 students from the Faculty of Education and Psychology of the University of Extremadura. The results show that most of them know and have used AI at some time, preferably to obtain information or to make summaries. They also consider that it is useful in the teaching-learning process, promoting the personalization of learning and the improvement of educational content. However, most of them are of the opinion that it should be regulated in order to guarantee an ethical use and be more transparent in its decision-making and in the data it uses. In this sense, teacher training is essential