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Virtual simulations in science classes are not used as often as might be expected if we consider the demonstrated improvement in students’ conceptual learning, the development of their skills, and their acquisition of positive emotions. This makes it necessary to identify teachers’ attitudes and perceptions to the use of these tools. The aim of this work is to construct and validate an instrument for measuring the attitudes of secondary education teachers towards the use of virtual simulations in STEM fields. Based on an in-depth theoretical review, we developed an initial questionnaire that was subjected to a process of expert validation and a pilot study. A questionnaire comprising 27 items was obtained, which was applied to 783 secondary school teachers in Spain. After carrying out confirmatory factor analysis, a scale comprising five factors was obtained. The psychometric analyses displayed satisfactory fit indices that prove the discriminant and convergent validity of the model. The result is a useful instrument for determining the principal factors that discourage teachers from habitually using simulations. This enables the design of training proposals that take teachers’ prior attitudes into account.

Abstract Background Malaria is the parasitic disease with the highest morbimortality worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there were approximately 249 million cases in 2022, of which 3.4% were in Angola. Diagnosis is based on parasite identification by microscopy examination, antigen detection, and/or molecular tests, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of real-time PCR as a diagnostic method for malaria in an endemic area (Cubal, Angola). Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out at the Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz in Cubal, Angola, including 200 patients who consulted for febrile syndrome between May and July 2022. From each patient, a capillary blood sample was obtained by finger prick for malaria field diagnosis [microscopy and rapid diagnostic test (RDT)] and venous blood sample for real-time PCR performed at the Hospital Universitario Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona, Spain. Any participant with a positive result from at least one of these three methods was diagnosed with malaria. Results Of the 200 participants included, 54% were female and the median age was 7 years. Malaria was diagnosed by at least one of the three techniques (microscopy, RDT, and/or real-time PCR) in 58% of the participants, with RDT having the highest percentage of positivity (49%), followed by real-time PCR (39.5%) and microscopy (33.5%). Of the 61 discordant samples, 4 were only positive by microscopy, 13 by real-time PCR, and 26 by RDT. Plasmodium falciparum was the most frequent species detected (90.63%), followed by P. malariae (17.19%) and P. ovale (9.38%). Coinfections were detected in ten participants (15.63%): six (60%) were caused by P. falciparum and P. malariae, three (30%) by P. falciparum and P. ovale, and one (10%) triple infection with these three species. In addition, it was observed that P. falciparum and P. malariae coinfection significantly increased the parasite density of the latter. Conclusions RDT was the technique with the highest positivity rate, followed by real-time PCR and microscopy. The results of the real-time PCR may have been underestimated due to suboptimal storage conditions during the transportation of the DNA eluates. However, real-time PCR techniques have an important role in the surveillance of circulating Plasmodium species, given the epidemiological importance of the increase in non-falciparum species in the country, and can provide an estimate of the intensity of infection. Graphical abstract

Abstract Background Long-term deterioration in the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) has been reported during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Determining the impact of COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates on the mental health of HCWs is essential to prepare for potential new pandemics. This study aimed to investigate the association of COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates with depressive symptoms over 2 years among HCWs in 20 countries during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This was a multi-country serial cross-sectional study using data from the first and second survey waves of the COVID-19 HEalth caRe wOrkErS (HEROES) global study. The HEROES study prospectively collected data from HCWs at various health facilities. The target population included HCWs with both clinical and non-clinical roles. In most countries, healthcare centers were recruited based on convenience sampling. As an independent variable, daily COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates were calculated using confirmed cases and deaths reported by Johns Hopkins University. These rates represent the average for the 7 days preceding the participants’ response date. The primary outcome was depressive symptoms, assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. A multilevel linear mixed model (LMM) was conducted to investigate the association of depressive symptoms with the average incidence and mortality rates. Results A total of 32,223 responses from the participants who responded to all measures used in this study on either the first or second survey, and on both the first and second surveys in 20 countries were included in the analysis. The mean age was 40.1 (SD = 11.1), and 23,619 responses (73.3%) were from females. The 9323 responses (28.9%) were nurses and 9119 (28.3%) were physicians. LMM showed that the incidence rate was significantly and positively associated with depressive symptoms (coefficient = 0.008, standard error 0.003, p = 0.003). The mortality rate was significantly and positively associated with depressive symptoms (coefficient = 0.049, se = 0.020, p = 0.017). Conclusions This is the first study to show an association between COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates with depressive symptoms among HCWs during the first 2 years of the outbreak in multiple countries. This study’s findings indicate that additional mental health support for HCWs was needed when the COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates increase during and after the early phase of the pandemic, and these findings may apply to future pandemics. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04352634.

In the current context, urban centres in Latin America are facing fundamental challenges in their endeavour for Sustainable Development. The focus of this study is the meticulous assessment of the perception of urban sustainability within the Lurín District of Peru. It introduces a system based on urban sustainability indicators, derived from social surveys and implements this system through linear regression models to discern their interrelations. The objective of the research is to quantify and evaluate essential elements linked to the management of natural resources, air and water quality, the advancement of sustainable mobility, education and the well-being of urban residents. By delineating these mathematical and statistical correlations amongst variables pertinent to urban sustainability, this study provides a robust framework for quantitative decision-making in the urban sphere. A methodology for the development of univariable and multivariable models has been demonstrated. Amongst the most important findings, it has been discovered that the variable Environmental Education System (SEA) is perceived as the least important and even negligible within the multivariable models. However, we believe this effect occurs because the impacts of education are perceived in the long term. This article contributes significantly to the academic discourse by providing a more nuanced understanding of the social perception of urban sustainability and its influence on policy formulation and decision-making processes in Latin America.

La formación del profesorado y la innovación en el ámbito académico son procesos básicos para la mejora de la calidad de la educación. En este trabajo se presenta una experiencia didáctica innovadora para el alumnado del Máster Universitario en Formación del Profesorado en Educación Secundaria y Bachillerato, de una universidad online, en la especialidad de matemáticas. La innovación educativa surge tras la detección de dificultades en la asimilación de los contenidos impartidos en la asignatura de Innovación Docente e Iniciación a la Investigación Educativa por parte del alumnado participante. La experiencia consiste en una interacción simultánea real (online) entre el alumnado del Máster de la especialidad de matemáticas y el alumnado de Bachillerato de un centro público de Educación Secundaria, de España, mientras estos reciben clases en su centro de manera presencial. La metodología didáctica utilizada en esta experiencia se basa en los principios del Aula Invertida y, en todo momento, se ha compartido con el alumnado del Máster el material necesario para su comprensión y asimilación. Para analizar esta experiencia se ha utilizado un cuestionario de recogida de información antes y después de la experiencia, una encuesta de satisfacción y un focus group. Los resultados indican que el alumnado del Máster online considera muy necesaria esta experiencia, ya que favorece la percepción del entorno al que deben adaptarse y, además, la visualización de casos reales aporta una visión significativa que completa y complementa la formación teórica recibida.

Training neural machine translation systems with noisy data has been shown to improve robustness (Heigold et al., 2018). The objective of the present study is to test Google Translate and DeepL performance in the detection and correction of typographical errors, by introducing 1,820 source text typos found in a previous work on specialised Spanish-English dictionaries (Rodríguez-Rubio & Fernández-Quesada, 2020a, 2020b; Rodríguez-Rubio Mediavilla, 2021). Typos were introduced in isolation and also in co-text. Results showed that Google Translate clearly outperformed DeepL. Moreover, the repetition of the source typo was found to be the most frequent phenomenon in the machine translation output of both systems. By shedding light on the capacity of systems to deal with source text typographical errors, our study aims to provide a starting point for their refinement.

Virtual simulations are a very useful educational resource to improve the teaching of chemistry. Their use makes it possible to facilitate the comprehension of concepts, promotes the development of scientific competences and even improves student attitudes toward chemistry. However, it is important to point out that a simulation by itself is not enough to improve student learning. Methodological design is a crucial aspect in order for its classroom use to be significant. Simulations must form part of an instructional sequence that promotes said learning, and thus the role of the instructor is key. This work conducts a systematic review with the aim of analyzing how to apply the use of simulations in the teaching of chemistry in secondary schools, delving deeper into the way in which simulations are used from a methodological perspective, in order to improve the learning processes and results. In this sense, it was found that there is an improvement in learning on both the level of content comprehension and in scientific competences. Guided research is also identified as the most effective methodology for the application of simulations in the classroom. With a look to the future, it is suggested that there is a need to conduct research on the continued use of simulations in the classroom, as well as their characteristics and the instructional methods used.

Objectives This study presents the process evaluation of an effective stepped-care programme of eHealth interventions (Doing What Matters in Times of Stress [DWM] and Problem Management Plus [PM+]) for healthcare workers (HCWs) with psychological distress (RESPOND-HCWs trial) conducted in Spain. The aim is to analyse the context in which the programme was delivered, assess key implementation outcomes and explore mechanisms of action. Methods We used mixed methods. Quantitative data came from routine randomised control trial monitoring and structured observation, and qualitative data were collected using semi-structured, in-depth interviews with trial participants ( n = 12) and decision-makers ( n = 7) and a focus group discussion with intervention providers ( n = 7). We conducted a descriptive analysis of quantitative data using R software and a thematic analysis of qualitative data using NVivo. Results Context analysis revealed implementation barriers, including unrealistic expectations of participants about the programme and mental health-related stigma. The flexibility of interventions and the opportunity for mental health actions were enabling factors. Implementation outcomes showed that the trial was feasible, appropriate and timely, and that the intervention was delivered with minimal protocol deviations and good acceptance among participants. Mechanisms of action included confidence in the positive effect of the intervention, a good therapeutic relationship and specific intervention components. Conclusions These results supplement the outcome evaluation and can help inform large-scale implementation in similar settings. Specific recommendations include increasing mental health awareness and reducing stigma in the implementation setting, including a short orientation session and ensuring flexibility in schedules and peer support. Trial registration number NCT04980326.

The current diagnostic criteria for the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) include the possibility to specify concomitant language difficulties. Purpose Our main aim was to explore whether children with ASD-Level 1 (ASD-L1) present difficulties in the acquisition of structural language, as little work has been done in this regard so far. As a secondary aim we evaluated the degree to which the potential language impairment in ASD is directly associated with their social communication deficits or it represents a distinct deficit. Methods To further clarify the nature and characteristics of putative language difficulties in ASD-L1, we evaluated language skills in 89 children and preadolescents diagnosed with ASD-L1, and a group of typically developing participants (TD). All of them were between 8 and 13 years old and had similar socioeconomic backgrounds. Results Children with ASD-L1 obtained lower scores than those in TD group in repeating sentences, in finding the semantic relationships between words, and in applying word structure rules (morphology). Congruently, the core language standard score was lower in the ASD-L1 group, and the proportion of language delay was significantly higher in the ASD-L1 group than in the control group. Conclusion Language scores were associated with autistic traits; thus, language performance in ASD-L1 is closely related to autistic symptoms. These results are discussed according to the literature on linguistic deficits in ASD-L1 and their relations with phonological working memory.

BackgroundUrogenital schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haematobium is highly endemic in the municipality of Cubal in Angola. Currently, diagnosis is based on the observation of S. haematobium eggs in urine samples by microscopy but this method has low sensitivity. Few studies have been performed using molecular techniques in high-prevalence areas for the detection of S. haematobium. The objective of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of real-time PCR as a diagnostic technique for urogenital schistosomiasis among preschool-age children and its correlation with morbidity data.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Cubal, Angola, involving 97 urine samples from preschool-age children analyzed by the dipstick test, microscopic examination of filtered urine, and real-time PCR. The diagnosis of urogenital schistosomiasis was based on microscopy and/or real-time PCR results. Clinical and ultrasonography evaluation was performed to rule out complications of schistosomiasis.ResultsWe detected a total of 64.95% of samples positive by real-time PCR and 37.11% by microscopy. The sensitivity of parasitological diagnosis of urogenital schistosomiasis by real-time PCR and microscopy was 95.45% and 54.55%, respectively, and the sensitivity of real-time PCR compared with microscopy was 91.67%. A positive real-time PCR result was significantly related to older age (mean = 3.22 years), detection of eggs by microscopy, and abnormal urine dipstick results (18.56% with proteinuria, 31.96% with leukocyturia, and 31.96% with microhematuria) (p-valueConclusionsReal-time PCR is a more sensitive technique than microscopy for urinary schistosomiasis diagnosis in preschool-age children in Cubal. This increase in sensitivity would allow earlier diagnosis and treatment, thus reducing the morbidity associated with schistosomiasis in its early stages.

Abstract The human aging brain is characterized by changes in network efficiency that are currently best captured through longitudinal resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). These studies however are challenging due to the long human lifespan. Here we show that the mouse animal model with a much shorter lifespan allows us to follow the functional network organization over most of the animal’s adult lifetime. We used a longitudinal study of the functional connectivity of different brain regions with rs-fMRI under anesthesia. Our analysis uncovers network modules similar to those reported in younger mice and in humans (i.e., prefrontal/default mode network (DMN), somatomotor and somatosensory networks). Statistical analysis reveals different patterns of network reorganization during aging. Female mice showed a pattern akin to human aging, with de-differentiation of the connectome, mainly due to increases in connectivity of the prefrontal/DMN cortical networks to other modules. Our male cohorts revealed heterogenous aging patterns with only one group confirming the de- differentiation, while the majority showed an increase in connectivity of the somatomotor cortex to the Nucleus accumbens. In summary, in line with human work, our analysis in mice supports the concept of de-differentiation in the aging mammalian brain and reveals additional trajectories in aging mice networks.

Los deportes de montaña tienen unas características propias, diferentes a otras modalidades deportivas en la naturaleza con características similares. La inteligencia emocional y la resiliencia son susceptibles de afectar positivamente al desempeño deportivo en condiciones extremas. En este estudio, participaron 788 deportistas mayores de 18 años (mayoría de edad en España) de la Federación Española de Deportes de Montaña y Escalada (FEDME), 593 hombres (75.3 %), 193 mujeres (24.5 %) y 2 personas (0.3 %) que consideraban ser de la categoría “otro género” (no binario, etc.). La edad media era de 49.8 años (± 12.8). Se utilizó como instrumentos la Escala de Resiliencia (RS-14), Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS-S) y Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). El objetivo era aportar evidencias sobre el potencial de la resiliencia entre la inteligencia emocional y satisfacción vital en deportistas de montaña y escalada. Los resultados del modelo de ecuaciones estructurales (SEM) mostraron elevados coeficientes de determinación en las variables resiliencia [(Q2 =.553); (R²=.663)] y satisfacción vital [(Q2 =.301); (R²=.422)]. La presente investigación precisará en el futuro de la realización de estudios específicos por modalidad deportiva para este ámbito, con un elevado número de practicantes y disciplinas, así como sus posibles aplicaciones para la mejora de factores emocionales.

The 2018/844 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU) has widened the scope of appropriate design of buildings from a pure energy performance and carbon emissions perspective to a wider scope that includes indoor comfort, and indoor air quality among others. To this effect, external parameters, especially solar energy, have a strong impact on the energy performance of buildings in Mediterranean regions, which requires careful consideration when it comes to benefiting from natural lighting while avoiding solar overheating. This paper addresses the considerations of natural lighting in the deep renovation of a housing block in the Mediterranean climate of the Republic of Malta, comparing some of the usual illuminance ranges to achieve optimal conditions based on international recommendations. DesignBuilder v7.0.0.102 has been the selected software to model the building that has been calibrated through experimental measurements. The model enabled the natural lighting conditions in the building evaluated and the effectiveness of suggested improvements to be determined. Results pointed out that the building under study satisfies the international standards about the prevention of visual discomfort only. Increasing the size of windows in identified zones, especially the first floor, was found to help improve other natural lighting characteristics. One of the proposed designs (Model 6) that replaces single-glazed with double-glazed windows that include an external spectrally-selective coating would significantly improve access to natural light bringing the building closer to the recommended levels of Annual Sunlight Exposure and reducing artificial lighting usage by up to five times. The relocation of room spaces could also reduce the use of artificial lighting.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the mental health of international migrant workers (IMWs). IMWs experience multiple barriers to accessing mental health care. Two scalable interventions developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) were adapted to address some of these barriers: Doing What Matters in times of stress (DWM), a guided self-help web application, and Problem Management Plus (PM +), a brief facilitator-led program to enhance coping skills. This study examines whether DWM and PM + remotely delivered as a stepped-care programme (DWM/PM +) is effective and cost-effective in reducing psychological distress, among Polish migrant workers with psychological distress living in the Netherlands. Methods The stepped-care DWM/PM + intervention will be tested in a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial (RCT) among adult Polish migrant workers with self-reported psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale; K10 > 15.9). Participants (n = 212) will be randomized into either the intervention group that receives DWM/PM + with psychological first aid (PFA) and care-as-usual (enhanced care-as-usual or eCAU), or into the control group that receives PFA and eCAU-only (1:1 allocation ratio). Baseline, 1-week post-DWM (week 7), 1-week post-PM + (week 13), and follow-up (week 21) self-reported assessments will be conducted. The primary outcome is psychological distress, assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS). Secondary outcomes are self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), resilience, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness. In a process evaluation, stakeholders’ views on barriers and facilitators to the implementation of DWM/PM + will be evaluated. Discussion To our knowledge, this is one of the first RCTs that combines two scalable, psychosocial WHO interventions into a stepped-care programme for migrant populations. If proven to be effective, this may bridge the mental health treatment gap IMWs experience. Trial registration Dutch trial register NL9630, 20/07/2021, https://www.onderzoekmetmensen.nl/en/trial/27052

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on population-wide mental health and well-being. Although people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage may be especially vulnerable, they experience barriers in accessing mental health care. To overcome these barriers, the World Health Organization (WHO) designed two scalable psychosocial interventions, namely the web-based Doing What Matters in Times of Stress (DWM) and the face-to-face Problem Management Plus (PM+), to help people manage stressful situations. Our study aims to test the effectiveness of a stepped-care program using DWM and PM + among individuals experiencing unstable housing in France – a majority of whom are migrant or have sought asylum. Methods This is a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a stepped-care program using DWM and PM + among persons with psychological distress and experiencing unstable housing, in comparison to enhanced care as usual (eCAU). Participants (N = 210) will be randomised to two parallel groups: eCAU or eCAU plus the stepped-care program. The main study outcomes are symptoms of depression and anxiety measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS). Discussion This randomised controlled trial will contribute to a better understanding of effective community-based scalable strategies that can help address the mental health needs of persons experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage, whose needs are high yet who frequently have limited access to mental health care services. Trial registration this randomised trial has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under the number NCT05033210.

Transcription factors control genes to maintain normal hemopoiesis, and dysregulation of some factors can lead to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Mycoviruses are known to alter the genetics of their fungal host. The present study evaluates the effects of the products of a mycovirus-containing Aspergillus flavus (MCAF), isolated from the home of a patient with ALL, on certain transcription factors of normal and ALL cell lines. Our published studies have shown that ALL patients have antibodies to MCAF, and that exposure of the mononuclear leukocytes of patients in complete remission to its products, unlike controls, results in the re-development of genetic and cell surface phenotypes characteristic of ALL. For the present study, normal, pre-B, and B-cell leukemia cell lines were exposed to the culture of MCAF. Pre- and post-exposure levels of PAX5, Ikaros, and NF-κB were assessed. Exposure to MCAF resulted in apoptosis, cell cycle changes, and complete downregulation of all transcription factors in normal cell lines. In acute leukemia cell lines, cellular apoptosis and alterations in the cell cycle were also noted; however, while there was downregulation of all tested transcription factors, residual levels were retained. The noted alterations in the transcription factors caused by MCAF are novel findings. The possible role of MCAF in leukemogenesis needs to be further investigated. Mycovirus-containing Aspergillus flavus was initially isolated from a leukemia patient’s home. Our prior published studies have illuminated intriguing associations of this organism with leukemia. Unlike controls, patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) harbor antibodies to this organism. Furthermore, the exposure of mononuclear cells from patients with ALL in complete remission to the products of this organism reproduced genetic and cell phenotypes characteristic of ALL. These findings underscore the potential role of environmental factors in leukemogenesis and hint at novel avenues for therapeutic intervention and preventive strategies.

Bullying is a problem that affects children and teenagers around the world and its repercussions can endure throughout adult life. The main objective of this research is to study the incidence of bullying on the academic performance of students in schools in the Madrid Region. The databases used are those of Competency Tests, a census evaluation carried out on all 10th grade students in Madrid during the year 2017 (almost 32.000 students). To analyze these data, we carry out a multilevel methodological approach to identify the quantitative association of bullying with academic performance and to estimate the probability that performance is affected by the level of bullying that exists in the school. The results indicate that bullying has a negative correlation with all the competencies evaluated and that bullying can affect students with low or high academic achievement in different ways, depending on what competency is evaluated.

This paper analyses, using a cross-sectional design, the relationship between academic qualifications during the initial training of primary school teachers and their professional development. Among all graduates of 13 promotions, from year 2004 to 2016, we selected the 15% of those students with the best qualifications and the 15% with the worst ones from each promotion. All participants answered the same questionnaire on employability, participation in induction programmes, participation in continuing education programmes, and professional motivation. Analyses performed included distribution analyses using chi-square and independent group comparisons with Student's t-test. Participants with better grades showed higher employability rates, increased participation in initial education programmes, and more motivation towards their profession. Continuing education programmes were only slightly affected by initial grades. These results support academic positions in Spain that defend the need to apply measures to select those candidates with the best grades to become teachers.

In the academic year of 2004-2005, the Spanish region of Madrid began to implement a bilingual educational programme (MBP hereinafter) in state schools. One of the objectives of this programme was to make the study of a foreign language (English) accessible to students from economically disadvantaged families who cannot afford private foreign language classes. Our study aims to evaluate whether students from a disadvantaged socio-economic background really do have the same probability of participating in the MBP as their more privileged peers. The analysis use the PISA 2015 database which corresponds to the representative sample of the Community of Madrid in Spain, with added administrative information supplied by the Madrid Regional Ministry of Education concerning the identification of bilingual and non-bilingual schools. Using these data, we estimate a logit model directed at identifying which factors explain the choice by students of whether to attend a bilingual state school. The results obtained reveal that the probability of attending a bilingual school is higher for students belonging to socio-economically and culturally better-off households. This suggests that the MBP could be fostering segregation within the state education sector in Madrid.

Practicum is an essential and meaningful form of teacher training but due to the great diversity of educational programs worldwide, their nature and quality depend too much on each particular situation. For this reason, an Interactive Digital Notepad (IDN) prototype, based on Kanban and powered up by Trello, is presented as a solution to the challenges related to the Practicum in foreign language teacher education programs. This article presents a lesson plan with the following objectives: (1) to present an interactive digital notepad to foreign language student teachers; (2) to upgrade their practicum experience; and (3) to create a personalised interactive digital notepad.