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The exploration of the impact of educational reforms on teacher performance is a topic that has gained unusual relevance in recent decades. By analyzing these reforms through the prism of Plithogenic statistics, a window opens to a new approach that allows us to understand the inherent complexity of contemporary educational systems. Plithogenic statistics, which integrate heterogeneous and multivariate data, provide a powerful tool for unraveling how educational policies affect teacher performance. In this study, a multifaceted approach has been employed, ranging from longitudinal data analysis to qualitative evaluation of teacher perceptions, revealing an intricate interconnection between the reforms implemented and the results observed in the classrooms. The conclusions derived from this analysis are revealing and, in a certain sense, paradigmatic. Educational reforms, far from being mere administrative interventions, emerge as agents of dynamic change that influence the motivation, professional development and, ultimately, the performance of teachers. However, this impact is not homogeneous; varies significantly depending on the institutional context and the individual characteristics of educators. Through the application of Plithogenic methods, it has been possible to capture the subtle interaction of these factors, providing a more nuanced and holistic vision of educational reality. In summary, this study not only expands the understanding of educational reforms, but also highlights the importance of using advanced statistical approaches to capture the complexity of modern educational phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work proposes a high-efficiency High-Brightness LED (HB-LED) driver for Visible Light Communication (VLC) based on a Two-Input Buck (TIBuck) DC/DC converter. This solution not only outperforms previous approaches based on Buck DC/DC converters, but also simplifies previous proposals for VLC drivers that use the split power technique with two DC/DC converters: one is in charge of the communication tasks and the other controls the biasing of the HB-LED (i.e., lighting tasks). The real implementation of this scheme requires either two input voltage sources, one of which is isolated, or one DC/DC converter with galvanic isolation. The proposed implementation of splitting the power is based on a TIBuck DC/DC converter that avoids the isolation requirement, overcoming the major drawback of this technique, keeping high-efficiency and high communication capability thanks to the lower voltage stress both across the switches and at the switching node. This fact allows for the operation at very high frequency for communication purposes, minimizing switching power losses, achieving high efficiency and providing lower filtering effort. Moreover, the duty ratio range can also be adapted to the useful voltage range of the HB-LED load to maximize the resolution on the tracking of the output volage. The power is split by means of an auxiliary Buck DC/DC converter operating at low switching frequency, which generates the secondary voltage source needed by the TIBuck DC/DC converter. This defines a natural split of power by only processing the power delivered for communications purposes at high frequency. A 7 W output-power experimental prototype of the proposed VLC driver was built and tested. Based on the experimental results, the prototype achieved 94% efficiency, reproducing a 64-QAM digital modulation scheme and achieving a bit rate of 1.5 Mbps with error in communication of 12%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There exists a scarcity of neurocognitive research that has successfully used electrophysiology as an objective tool to assess different learning modalitiesthat are commonly used in anatomy. The objective of this study was to explore the trend in the expression of brain waves in medical students when using different didactic strategies in learning anatomy. An exploratory, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted on 22 firstsemester medical students in anatomy. Using didactic strategies with different pedagogical tools such as biological models (human skulls and pig hearts) and/or digital application (Visible Body software), and different evaluation methods, students were grouped into three groups: "EOR1" students who learned using a skull and were evaluated with it; "EOV1" students who learned using a pig heart and were evaluated with the Visible Body software; and "EOV2" for students who learned through the Visible Body software and were evaluated with it. During the evaluation, each student was monitored in real-time using an electroencephalogram and the Emotiv EPOC brain-computer interface system to record the electro-physiological activity of beta (B), theta (T), and gamma (G) waves. The data obtained (the trend of the electrical activity of each wave and its relationship with students' performance in each didactic strategy) were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Groups EOR1 and EOV1 had satisfactory results in their evaluations and showed a predominance of B waves (x=67.33) and T waves (x=57.67). Additionally, a strongly positive correlation (r=0.82) was found between the presence of B waves and the duration of T waves. Students who used three-dimensional biological models as a pedagogical tool showed a predominance of B and T waves, which are associated with sensorimotor and exploratory learning necessary for studying anatomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Pediatría de Atención Primaria is the property of LUA Ediciones 3.0 S.L. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

With the continuous development of the industry, oil spill accidents occur frequently. Oil/water separation materials are considered to be a major choice for the treatment of oily wastewater due to their flexible operation and low cost. Cotton fabrics are low-cost and environmentally friendly, which are used as substrates to prepare oil/water separation materials with quite competitive in the market. A large number of oil/water separation cotton fabrics with excellent properties have been frequently reported in recent decades. On the other hand, since the service life of these oil/water separation cotton fabrics is closely related to the thin layer covered on the surface, so in order to improve the practical applicability, substances such as dopamine and plant polyphenols that improve the adhesion of the thin layer to the surface of the material are introduced into the preparation process of these materials. On this basis, the research progress of super-hydrophobic cotton fabrics, super-hydrophilic/ underwater super-oleophobic cotton fabrics, super durable oil/water separation cotton fabrics and intelligent response to oil/water separation fabric in recent years are reviewed, as well as their applications in the field of oil/water separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celiac disease (CeD) is an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten in genetically predisposed individuals, affecting all ages. Intestinal permeability (IP) is crucial in the pathogenesis of CeD and it is primarily governed by tight junctions (TJs) that uphold the intestinal barrier's integrity. The protein zonulin plays a critical role in modulating the permeability of TJs having emerged as a potential non-invasive biomarker to study IP. The importance of this study lies in providing evidence for the usefulness of a non-invasive tool in the study of IP both at baseline and in the follow-up of paediatric patients with CeD. In this single-centre prospective observational study, we explored the correlation between faecal zonulin levels and others faecal and serum biomarkers for monitoring IP in CeD within the paediatric population. We also aimed to establish reference values for faecal zonulin in the paediatric population. We found that faecal zonulin and calprotectin values are higher at the onset of CeD compared with the control population. Specifically, the zonulin levels were 347.5 ng/mL as opposed to 177.7 ng/mL in the control population (p = 0.001), while calprotectin levels were 29.8 μg/g stool compared to 13.9 μg/g stool (p = 0.029). As the duration without gluten consumption increased, a significant reduction in faecal zonulin levels was observed in patients with CeD (348.5 ng/mL vs. 157.1 ng/mL; p = 0.002), along with a decrease in the prevalence of patients with vitamin D insufficiency (88.9% vs. 77.8%). We conclude that faecal zonulin concentrations were higher in the patients with active CeD compared with healthy individuals or those following a gluten-free diet (GFD). The significant decrease in their values over the duration of the GFD suggests the potential use of zonulin as an additional tool in monitoring adherence to a GFD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcapsules are being used in textile substrates increasingly more frequently, availing a wide spectrum of possibilities that are relevant to future research trends. Biofunctional Textiles is a new field that should be carefully studied, especially when dealing with microencapsulated essential oils. In the final step, when the active principle is delivered, there are some possibilities to quantify and simulate its doses on the skin or in the environment. At that stage, there is a phenomenon that can help to better control the delivery and the reservoir effect of the textile substrate. Depending on the chemical characteristics of the molecule to be delivered, as well as the structure and chemical nature of the fabric where it has been applied, there is physicochemical retention exerted by fibers that strongly controls the final rate of principle active delivery to the external part of the textile substrate. The study of this type of effect in two different substrates (cotton and polyester) will be described here regarding two different essential oils microencapsulated and applied to the substrates using padding technology. The experimental results of the final drug delivery demonstrate this reservoir effect in both essential oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Cientifica de la Facultade de Veterinaria is the property of Universidad del Zulia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The sustainability of family farms, or Family Production Units (FPUs), cultivating native maize varieties in Chiapas, Mexico, is intricately linked to economic, socio-productive, environmental, and cultural factors. Given their significance within the regional socio-productive framework, the objective of this study was to assess sustainability across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. The methodology employed for sustainability analysis was the Framework for Evaluation of Natural Resource Management Systems (MESMIS). Thirty FPUs were purposively selected from 14 communities spanning four municipalities and were typologically classified into three groups: Traditional, Maize Growers-Livestockers, and Diversified. In-depth interviews were conducted with individual farmers, complemented by group interviews involving entire families. The collected data underwent processing through multiple correspondence statistical analysis, analysis of variance for linear models, and multiple comparisons of means. The results indicated that the Diversified FPU group exhibited higher sustainability, covering 68% of the sustainability perimeter. Consequently, this group demonstrated better conditions for preserving native maize varieties over time and developing strategies to meet their needs concurrently. The Traditional FPU group covered 58%, while the Maize Growers-Livestockers group covered 52% of the sustainability perimeter. In conclusion, it was observed that family reproduction strategies, grounded in resource utilization (capitals), shape forms of nature appropriation that are continually reconfigured. These configurations play a pivotal role in defining the sustainability of FPUs engaged in native maize cultivation in the Frailesca region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Derecho UNED is the property of Editorial UNED and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)