bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A General Symbolic Approach to Kolmogorov-Sinai Entropy
Authors: Stolz Inga , Keller Karsten
Published: December 2017

It is popular to study a time-dependent nonlinear system by encoding outcomes of measurements into sequences of symbols following certain symbolization schemes. Mostly, symbolizations by threshold crossings or variants of it are applied, but also, the relatively new symbolic approach, which goes back to innovative works of Bandt and Pompe—ordinal symbolic dynamics—plays an increasing role. In this paper, we discuss both approaches novelly in one breath with respect to the theoretical determination of the Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy (KS entropy). For this purpose, we propose and investigate a unifying approach to formalize symbolizations. By doing so, we can emphasize the main advantage of the ordinal approach if no symbolization scheme can be found that characterizes KS entropy directly: the ordinal approach, as well as generalizations of it provide, under very natural conditions, a direct route to KS entropy by default.
Time-Varying Window Length for Correlation Forecasts
Authors: Jeon Yoontae , McCurdy Thomas
Published: December 2017

Forecasting correlations between stocks and commodities is important for diversification across asset classes and other risk management decisions. Correlation forecasts are affected by model uncertainty, the sources of which can include uncertainty about changing fundamentals and associated parameters (model instability), structural breaks and nonlinearities due, for example, to regime switching. We use approaches that weight historical data according to their predictive content. Specifically, we estimate two alternative models, ‘time-varying weights’ and ‘time-varying window’, in order to maximize the value of past data for forecasting. Our empirical analyses reveal that these approaches provide superior forecasts to several benchmark models for forecasting correlations.
Exploring String Axions with Gravitational Waves
Authors: Soda Jiro , Yoshida Daiske
Published: December 2017

We explore the string axion dark matter with gravitational waves in Chern–Simons gravity. We show that the parametric resonance of gravitational waves occurs due to the axion coherent oscillation. Remarkably, the circular polarization of gravitational waves is induced by the parity violating Chern–Simons coupling. In fact, the gravitational waves should be enhanced ten times every 10 − 8 pc propagation in the presence of the axion dark matter with mass 10 − 10 eV provided the coupling constant ℓ = 10 8 km . Hence, after 10 kpc propagation, the amplitude of gravitational waves is enhanced significantly and the polarization of gravitational waves becomes circular. However, we have never observed these signatures. This implies that the Chern–Simons coupling constant and/or the abundance of string axions should be constrained much stronger than the current limits.
Setting Housing Standards to Improve Global Health
Authors: Howden-Chapman Philippa , Roebbel Nathalie , Chisholm Elinor
Published: December 2017

Developing World Health Organization international guidelines is a highly formal process. Yet the resulting guidelines, which Member States are encouraged, but not required to adopt, are a powerful way of developing rigorous policy and fostering implementation. Using the example of the housing and health guidelines, which are currently being finalised, this paper outlines the process for developing WHO guidelines. This includes: forming a Guidelines Review Group that represents all regions of the world, and ensures gender balance and technical expertise; identifying key health outcomes of interest; commissioning systematic reviews of the evidence; assessing the evidence; and formulating recommendations. The strength of each recommendation is assessed based on the quality of the evidence, along with consideration of issues such as equity, acceptability, and feasibility of the implementation of the recommendation. The proposed housing guidelines will address: cold and hot indoor temperatures, home injuries, household crowding, accessibility and access to active travel infrastructure.
Towards Sustainable Urban Planning Through Transit-Oriented Development (A Case Study: Tehran)
Authors: Motieyan Hamid , Mesgari Mohammad
Published: December 2017

Sustainable development is regarded as a pivotal factor for smart urban planning. Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is a well-known land use transportation integration (LUTI) planning method, which can fulfill sustainable development objectives. In this study, a new spatial index is developed to measure TOD levels in neighborhoods of Tehran, the capital of Iran. To develop the TOD index, several criteria and indicators are first computed using spatial analyses, before being aggregated using a fuzzy-analytic hierarchy process (fuzzy-AHP). The fuzzy-AHP method generates three types of factor maps: that are optimistic, pessimistic, and moderate. This process evaluates the sensitivity of the TOD index by determining the indicators’ weights from various views, or perspectives. The results of this sensitivity analysis show the robustness of results from various views. Furthermore, in order to assess the efficiency of the proposed method, the moderate TOD-level map is compared with both the level of public transit services and trip attraction in neighborhoods. This comparison shows that the TOD map has an accuracy of 77 percent in urban modeling, which verifies the efficiency of the proposed method for measuring TOD.
miR-34a Regulates Sperm Motility in Zebrafish
Authors: Guo Wenjie , Xie Binyue , Xiong Shuting , Liang Xufang , Gui Jian-Fang , Mei Jie
Published: December 2017

Increasing attention has been focused on the role of microRNAs in post-transcription regulation during spermatogenesis. Recently, the miR-34 family has been shown to be involved in the spermatogenesis, but the clear function of the miR-34 family in spermatogenesis is still obscure. Here we analyzed the function of miR-34a, a member of the miR-34 family, during spermatogenesis using miR-34a knockout zebrafish generated by the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system. miR-34a knockout zebrafish showed no obvious defects on testis morphology and sperm quantity. However, we found a significant increase in progressive sperm motility that is one of the pivotal factors influencing in vitro fertilization rates, in the knockout zebrafish. Moreover, breeding experiments showed that, when miR-34a-knockout male zebrafish mated with the wide-type females, they had a higher fertilization rate than did the wide-type males. Glycogen synthase kinase-3a (gsk3a), a potential sperm motility regulatory gene was predicted to be targeted by miR-34a, which was further supported by luciferase reporter assays, since a significant decrease of luciferase activity was detected upon ectopic overexpression of miR-34a. Our findings suggest that miR-34a downregulates gsk3a by targeting its 3′ untranslated region, and miR-34a/gsk3a interaction modulates sperm motility in zebrafish. This study will help in understanding in the role of the miR-34 family during spermatogenesis and will set paths for further studies.
Computational Study of the Effects of Processing Parameters on the Nonlinear Elastoplastic Behavior of Polymer Nanoclay Composites
Authors: Rahman Arifur , Wu Xiang-Fa
Published: December 2017

Processing parameters (e.g., exfoliation extent and volume fraction) of clay particles in polymeric resins play a crucial role in the mechanical properties of polymer nanoclay composites (PNCs). This paper is aimed to investigate the effects of clay aspect ratio and volume fraction on the global mechanical properties (e.g., effective stiffness, yield strength, and ultimate tensile strength) of PNCs. During the process, computational micromechanics models are adopted to simulate the nonlinear elastoplastic behavior of the PNCs of varying clay particle volume fractions and aspect ratios subjected to uniaxial tension. A representative volume element (RVE) of the PNCs is employed for the finite-element-method (FEM) based computational simulations. The polymeric matrix is treated as an idealized elastoplastic solid with isotropic hardening behavior, and the clay particles are treated as stiff elastic platelets distributed evenly in the stack and stagger configurations in the matrix. Seven volume fractions (Vf = 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, and 15%) and seven aspect ratios (the ratio of platelet length over thickness ρ = 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100) of the reinforcing clay particles are utilized. Numerical experiments show that the effective modulus of the PNCs at small strains increases with the increase of either the clay volume fraction or the platelet aspect ratio largely following those predicted by classic micromechanics models. However, at the low particle aspect ratios (e.g., ρ = 1, 2, 5 and 10), the ultimate tensile strength of the clay composite is nearly independent of the clay volume fraction up to 5% in the present study, i.e., the polymeric matrix governs the PNC strength; at the large particle aspect ratios (e.g., ρ = 20 and 50), the ultimate tensile strength is significantly enhanced with growing clay volume fraction higher than 5% and reaches ~150% of that of the polymeric matrix at ρ = 50 and Vf = 10%. A comparative study is conducted for stack and stagger models for the prediction of the mechanical properties of PNCs. It shows that the stack model predicts slightly larger values of the effective stiffness and tensile strength than the stagger model. The numerical study shows that a large platelet aspect ratio through full exfoliation of the clay particles in matrix is crucial to achieving the preferable mechanical properties of PNCs as evidenced in experiments. The present results can be utilized to quantitatively explain the mechanical properties of clay particle-reinforced composites and PNCs within the framework of classic micromechanics, and provide guidelines for computer-aided nanocomposites design for processing property-tailorable PNCs.
Joint Application of Fractal Analysis and Weights-of-Evidence Method for Revealing the Geological Controls on Regional-Scale Tungsten Mineralization in Southern Jiangxi Province, China
Authors: Sun Tao , Wu Kaixing , Chen Lingkang , Liu Weiming , Wang Yun , Zhang Cisheng
Published: December 2017

The Southern Jiangxi Province (SJP) hosts one of the best known districts of tungsten deposits in the world. Delineating spatial complexities of geological features and their controls on regional-scale tungsten mineralization by using an integrated fractal and weights-of-evidence (WofE) method can provide insights into the understanding of ore genesis and facilitate further prospecting in this area. The box-counting fractal analysis shows that most of the tungsten occurrences are distributed in regions with high fractal dimensions of faults and fault intersections, suggesting ore-forming favorability of areas with highly complex structural patterns. The WofE-derived indices are employed to quantitatively measure the controls of analyzed features on mineralization, which illustrate that tungsten anomalies, faults, Yanshanian granites, and manganese anomalies have high contrast values, implying a spatially strong correlation of these features with tungsten occurrences. In particular, high manganese anomalies in host rock may provide a novel indication for mineral prospecting in this area. A predictive map is extracted based on the combination of fractal and WofE results, providing intuitive guides for future prospectivity in this area. Regions identified by high posterior probability in conjunction with high fractal dimensions of both faults and fault intersections are evaluated as the most favorable targets.
One-Pot Lipase-Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of (R)-(−)-N-Benzyl-3-(benzylamino)butanamide: The Effect of Solvent Polarity on Enantioselectivity
Authors: Ortega-Rojas Marina , Rivera-Ramírez José , Ávila-Ortiz C. , Juaristi Eusebio , González-Muñoz Fernando , Castillo Edmundo , Escalante Jaime
Published: December 2017

The use of the solvent engineering has been applied for controlling the resolution of lipase-catalyzed synthesis of β-aminoacids via Michael addition reactions. The strategy consisted of the thermodynamic control of products at equilibrium using the lipase CalB as a catalyst. The enzymatic chemo- and enantioselective synthesis of (R)-(−)-N-benzyl-3-(benzylamino)butanamide is reported, showing the influence of the solvent on the chemoselectivity of the aza-Michael addition and the subsequent kinetic resolution of the Michael adduct; both processes are catalyzed by CalB and both are influenced by the nature of the solvent medium. This approach allowed us to propose a novel one-pot strategy for the enzymatic synthesis of enantiomerically enriched β-aminoesters and β-aminoacids.
Effect of Oxylipins, Terpenoid Precursors and Wounding on Soft Corals’ Secondary Metabolism as Analyzed via UPLC/MS and Chemometrics
Authors: Farag Mohamed , Westphal Hildegard , Eissa Tarek , Wessjohann Ludger , Meyer Achim
Published: December 2017

The effect of three oxylipin analogues, a terpenoid intermediate and wounding on the secondary metabolism of the soft corals Sarcophyton glaucum and Lobophyton pauciflorum was assessed. Examined oxylipins included prostaglandin (PG-E1), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and arachidonic acid (AA) in addition to the diterpene precursor geranylgeranylpyrophosphate (GGP). Post-elicitation, metabolites were extracted from coral heads and analyzed via UPLC-MS followed by multivariate data analyses. Both supervised and unsupervised data analyses were used for sample classification. Multivariate data analysis revealed clear segregation of PG-E1 and MeJA elicited S. glaucum at 24 and 48 h post elicitation from other elicitor samples and unelicited control group. PG-E1 was found more effective in upregulating S. glaucum terpene/sterol levels compared to MeJA. Metabolites showing upregulation in S. glaucum include campestene-triol and a cembranoid, detected at ca. 30- and 2-fold higher levels compared to unelicited corals. Such an elicitation effect was less notable in the other coral species L. pauciflorum, suggesting a differential oxylipin response in soft corals. Compared to MeJA and PG, no elicitation effect was observed for GGP, AA or wounding on the metabolism of either coral species.
Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction, HPLC and UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS Analysis of Main Macamides and Macaenes from Maca (Cultivars of Lepidium meyenii Walp)
Authors: Chen Shu-Xiao , Li Ke-Ke , Pubu Duoji , Jiang Si-Ping , Chen Bin , Chen Li-Rong , Yang Zhen , Ma Chao , Gong Xiao-Jie
Published: December 2017

Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), using petroleum ether as the solvent, was systematically applied to extract main macamides and macaenes from Maca hypocotyls. Extraction yield was related with four variables, including ratio of solution to solid, extraction temperature, extraction time, and extraction power. On the basis of response surface methodology (RSM), the optimal conditions were determined to be the ratio of solution to solid as 10:1 (mL/g), the extraction temperature of 40 °C, the extraction time of 30 min, and the extraction power of 200 W. Based on the optimal extraction method of UAE, the total contents of ten main macamides and two main macaenes of Maca cultivated in twenty different areas of Tibet were analyzed by HPLC and UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS. This study indicated that UAE was able to effectively extract macamides alkaloids from Maca hypocotyls. Quantitative analysis showed that geographical origins, not ecotypes, played a more important role on the accumulation of active macamides in Maca.
Pharmacy Students’ Knowledge and Attitude toward Registration Trials and Clinical Research: A Survey in a Japanese University Hospital
Authors: Ise Natsuko , Takechi Kenshi , Miyamoto Toshiko , Ishizawa Keisuke , Yanagawa Hiroaki
Published: December 2017

Clinical research plays a fundamental role in establishing new treatments. Clinical research coordinators are considered essential in clinical research, and medical professionals such as pharmacists often take on this role. Pharmacy students can be considered future candidates for this task. We used questionnaires to survey the knowledge of and attitudes toward registration trials and clinical research of pharmacy students at Tokushima University Hospital. All pharmacy students (103) to whom questionnaires were sent responded. Almost all respondents were aware of registration trials and clinical research. More than 90% were aware of the existence of clinical research coordinators, and about half (48.6%) understood their role. In clinical research terminology, most respondents were aware of informed consent and related issues, but fewer than 20% were aware of more practical things. In total, 29.1% and 40.8% of the respondents were willing to carry out and coordinate research. These findings suggest that pharmacy students have basic knowledge of clinical research and that many students are willing to carry out and coordinate clinical research. More practical exposure to clinical research may help to strengthen their future contribution. Further studies may help to determine how to provide education on registration trials and clinical research to pharmacy students.
Refractive Index Sensor Based on a Metal–Insulator–Metal Waveguide Coupled with a Symmetric Structure
Authors: Yan Shubin , Zhang Meng , Zhao Xuefeng , Zhang Yanjun , Wang Jicheng , Jin Wen
Published: December 2017

In this study, a new refractive index sensor based on a metal–insulator–metal waveguide coupled with a notched ring resonator and stub is designed. The finite element method is used to study the propagation characteristics of the sensor. According to the calculation results, the transmission spectrum exhibits a typical Fano resonance shape. The phenomenon of Fano resonance is caused by the coupling between the broadband spectrum and narrowband spectrum. In the design, the broadband spectrum signal is generated by the stub, while the narrowband spectrum signal is generated by the notched ring resonator. In addition, the structural parameters of the resonators and the structure filled with media of different refractive indices are varied to study the sensing properties. The maximum achieved sensitivity of the sensor reached 1071.4 nm/RIU. The results reveal potential applications of the coupled system in the field of sensors.
Exploring Critical Alternatives for Youth Development through Lifestyle Sport: Surfing and Community Development in Aotearoa/New Zealand
Authors: Wheaton Belinda , Roy Georgina , Olive Rebecca
Published: December 2017

While competition-based team sports remain dominant in community and sport-for-development programs, researchers are exploring the value of alternative, less “sportized” activities such as lifestyle/action sports. In this paper, we explore the ways in which surfing is being used in development programs in Aotearoa/New Zealand, examining the perceived social benefits and impact. Our methods involved: (a) mapping the range of surfing projects; and (b) 8 in-depth interviews with program personnel. Widespread conviction in the positive developmental benefits of surfing was evident, and that surfing had a “special” capacity to reform or heal those who participate in it. However, the ways in which individuals’ self-developments were promoted appear to be following the traditional sport/youth development path. They focus on policies aimed at improved life chances, equipping youth with the tools for self-improvement and self-management, inculcating self-governance and self-reliance. However, a counter narrative co-existed, highlighting surfing as a freeing experience, which, rather than restoring social order, works to instigate a personal transformation or awakening. Despite the range of challenges presented by surfing as a tool for positive development, surfing presents a potentially “critical alternative” which if sport-for-development programs are to be a form of social change, we should remain open to exploring.
Cosmic Reionization after Planck and before JWST: An Analytic Approach
Authors: Madau Piero
Published: December 2017

The reionization of cosmic hydrogen marks a critical juncture in the history of structure formation. Here we present a new formulation of the standard reionization equation for the evolution of the volume-averaged H ii fraction that is more consistent with the accepted conceptual model of inhomogeneous intergalactic absorption. The revised equation explicitly accounts for the presence of the optically thick “Lyman-limit systems” that are known to determine the mean-free path of ionizing radiation after overlap. Integration of this equation provides a better characterization of the timing of reionization by smoothly linking the pre-overlap with the post-overlap phases of such a process. We confirm the validity of the quasi-instantaneous approximation as a predictor of reionization completion/maintenance and discuss new insights on the sources of cosmic reionization using the improved formalism. A constant emission rate into the intergalactic medium (IGM) of three Lyman continuum (LyC) photons per atom per gigayear leads to a reionization history that is consistent with a number of observational constraints on the ionization state of the z = 5–9 universe. While star-forming galaxies can dominate the reionization process if the luminosity-weighted fraction of LyC photons that escape into the IGM,

, exceeds 15% (for a faint magnitude cut-off of the galaxy UV luminosity function of

and a LyC photon yield per unit 1500 Å luminosity of

), simple models where the product of the two unknowns

is not evolving with redshift fail to reproduce the changing neutrality of the IGM observed at these epochs.
Quasi-electrostatic Whistler Wave Dynamics in Earth’s Radiation Belt
Authors: Kumar Sanjay , Sharma R. P. , Moon Y.-J. , Goyal Ravinder
Published: December 2017

We present a semi-analytical model to study the dynamics of quasi-electrostatic whistler (hereafter, referred to as QEW) waves in Earth’s outer radian belt. QEW wave is a new mode of whistler waves and comes into existence when a whistler wave propagates obliquely close to the resonance cone angle. The equations for self-driven QEW waves and density perturbation are obtained by a fluid model and solved using a high-performance numerical simulation. The wave localizes and therefore generates filaments/or thin sheets obliquely to the ambient magnetic field by ponderomotive effect, which arises due to a QEW wave. These thin sheets become more complex and intense with time and finally saturate when the modulational instability attains a quasi-steady state. To analyze the turbulence from QEW waves in the radiation belt, we present the electric field power spectrum of QEW waves with frequency. The spectrum can be given by the power law having scaling of the order of

f

−
2.3

at high frequency, i.e., in the dissipation range. The steeper spectrum at higher frequency may result from the energization of charged particles by energy taken from the fluctuations.
The Sloan Lens ACS Survey. XIII. Discovery of 40 New Galaxy-scale Strong Lenses∗
Authors: Shu Yiping , Brownstein Joel R. , Bolton Adam S. , Koopmans Léon V. E. , Treu Tommaso , Montero-Dorta Antonio D. , Auger Matthew W. , Czoske Oliver , Gavazzi Raphaël , Marshall Philip J. , Moustakas Leonidas A.
Published: December 2017

We present the full sample of 118 galaxy-scale strong-lens candidates in the Sloan Lens ACS (SLACS) Survey for the Masses (S4TM) Survey, which are spectroscopically selected from the final data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Follow-up Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging observations confirm that 40 candidates are definite strong lenses with multiple lensed images. The foreground-lens galaxies are found to be early-type galaxies (ETGs) at redshifts 0.06–0.44, and background sources are emission-line galaxies at redshifts 0.22–1.29. As an extension of the SLACS Survey, the S4TM Survey is the first attempt to preferentially search for strong-lens systems with relatively lower lens masses than those in the pre-existing strong-lens samples. By fitting HST data with a singular isothermal ellipsoid model, we find that the total projected mass within the Einstein radius of the S4TM strong-lens sample ranges from 3 × 1010
M
⊙ to 2 × 1011
M
⊙. In Shu et al., we have derived the total stellar mass of the S4TM lenses to be 5 × 1010
M
⊙ to 1 × 1012
M
⊙. Both the total enclosed mass and stellar mass of the S4TM lenses are on average almost a factor of 2 smaller than those of the SLACS lenses, which also represent the typical mass scales of the current strong-lens samples. The extended mass coverage provided by the S4TM sample can enable a direct test, with the aid of strong lensing, for transitions in scaling relations, kinematic properties, mass structure, and dark-matter content trends of ETGs at intermediate-mass scales as noted in previous studies.
Postoperative Corneal Asphericity in Low, Moderate, and High Myopic Eyes After Transepithelial PRK Using a New Pulse Allocation
Authors: Lin David T. C. , Holland Simon P. , Verma Shwetabh , Hogden John , Arba-Mosquera Samuel
Published: December 2017

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the postoperative asphericity in low, moderate, and high myopic eyes after combined transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy and SmartSurf
ACE
treatment (SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions GmbH, Kleinostheim, Germany).

METHODS:

In this retrospective case series, the outcomes of myopic SmartSurf
ACE
were evaluated at 3 months postoperatively in 106 eyes and divided into low (less than −4.125 diopters [D]), moderate (−4.125 to −6.25 D), and high (more than −6.25 D) myopia groups. In all cases, standard examinations and preoperative and postoperative corneal topography (SCHWIND Sirius) were performed. The analysis comprised evaluating the change in asphericity versus planned correction, comparing expected and achieved postoperative asphericity for all eyes, and comparison of the three groups in terms of the preoperative and postoperatively expected and achieved asphericity.

RESULTS

At 3 months postoperatively, the low myopia group (n = 33) improved average negative asphericity (Q = −0.04 ± 0.17 preoperative vs −0.19 ± 0.20 postoperative,
P
< .05). The moderate myopia group (n = 35) maintained or slightly improved average negative asphericity (Q = −0.07 ± 0.14 preoperative vs −0.05 ± 0.24 postoperative,
P
= .35). For the high myopia group (n = 38), the eyes became more oblate compared to the preoperative status (Q = −0.09 ± 0.15 preoperative vs 0.62 ± 0.70 postoperative,
P
< .05). In terms of asphericity, the difference between the three groups was not statistically significant preoperatively (
P
> .10), but showed significant differences postoperatively (
P
< .007). The cohort's average preoperative corrected distance visual acuity was 0.01 ± 0.04 logMAR (range: 0.0 to 0.18 logMAR) and uncorrected distance visual acuity was 0.03 ± 0.08 logMAR (range: −0.12 to 0.40 logMAR) 3 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS:

SmartSurf
ACE
maintained or slightly improved preoperative corneal asphericity for low to moderate myopic corrections (up to −6.00 D). This may provide advantages in the quality of vision and the onset of presbyopic symptoms after laser refractive surgery in myopic patients.

[
J Refract Surg
. 2017;33(12):820–826.]
Long-term Follow-up of LASEK With Mitomycin C Performed to Correct Myopia in Thin Corneas
Authors: Garcia-Gonzalez Montserrat , Drake Rodriguez-Casanova Pilar , Rodriguez-Perez Isabel , Rodero Alberto , Teus Miguel A.
Published: December 2017

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the long-term outcomes of laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) with intraoperative use of mitomycin C (MMC) performed on thin corneas for the correction of myopia.

METHODS:

This retrospective cohort study included 100 eyes with a preoperative central corneal thickness (CCT) thinner than 500
μ
m that underwent LASEK + MMC with at least 6 years of follow-up. Stability of visual acuity and refraction and the efficacy, safety, and predictability at the examinations 3 months and the last annual postoperative visit were analyzed.

RESULTS:

Preoperative CCT was 482.9 ± 14.7
μ
m (range: 433 to 499
μ
m). Mean preoperative spherical equivalent was −4.09 ± 2.3 diopters (D). At the 3-month postoperative visit, mean CCT was 419.79 ± 32.6
μ
m. The residual spherical equivalent showed a statistically significant regression (
P
= .001) in the comparison between the 3-month and the last annual postoperative visit. The efficacy index showed a significant decrease (
P
= .01) and the safety index remained stable around 0.96. Six or more years after the surgery, 85 eyes (85%) were within ±0.50 D and 94 eyes (94%) eyes were within ±1.00 D of emmetropia. The topography did not show signs of secondary corneal ectasia in any eye.

CONCLUSIONS:

LASEK with intraoperative use of MMC seems to be safe, effective, and predictable to correct myopia in corneas thinner than 500
μ
m and with normal preoperative topography, providing good visual and refractive outcomes with no topographic signs of corneal ectasia in a mean 6.5-year follow-up.

[
J Refract Surg
. 2017;33(12):813–819.]
Corrigendum: Assembly of a conduct risk regulatory model for developing market banks
Authors: Hargarter Antje , Van Vuuren Gary
Published: December 2017

No abstract available.
Articulación y rediseño curricular: el eterno desafío institucional
Authors: Zabalza Beraza Miguel Ángel
Published: December 2017

Los procesos de integración curricular buscan establecer nexos entre las disciplinas tratando de generar una coreografía didáctica más acorde con el propósito de alcanzar un aprendizaje significativo y bien estructurado por parte de los estudiantes. Los modelos curriculares por yuxtaposición atomizan en exceso los procesos de aprendizaje y generan esquemas mentales inconexos y poco eficientes. Partiendo de la idea del currículo como un proyecto formativo integrado, el autor analiza la integración curricular como un proceso de innovación institucional que se proyecta tanto sobre el diseño y desarrollo de las tareas docentes como sobre los procesos de aprendizaje que desarrollan los estudiantes. Seis estrategias de integración curricular se presentan y explican: (1) la identificación de los semestres con bloques formativos;(2) el establecimiento de espacios comunes a varias disciplinas; (3) la fusión total o parcial de materias; (4) los clusters de materias impartidas por clusters de profesores y (5) la organización curricular por módulos temáticos.

 

 
La actividad clínica: descripción de un dispositivo pedagógico orientado por el enfoque-programa
Authors: Correa Molina Enrique
Published: December 2017

De manera general, la docencia universitaria puede realizarse bajo dos enfoques: un enfoque “curso” y un enfoque “programa”. Para el desarrollo de competencias profesionales se recomienda que la formación inicial se sitúe en la perspectiva del enfoque-programa caracterizado por promover un aprendizaje mucho más activo que el tradicional enfoque-curso. No obstante sus ventajas para la formación profesional de los docentes de hoy en día, ciertas condiciones se imponen para su éxito. Mencionamos entre ellas la necesidad de trabajar de manera concertada para establecer una relación de sinergia en el cuerpo profesoral y una complementariedad explícita entre los diferentes cursos que componen la malla curricular del programa. Esto con el fin de favorecer la integración de los distintos saberes que se trabajan durante la formación. Este artículo se centra en la descripción de una experiencia de formación inicial docente bajo el enfoque-programa en la Facultad de educación de la Universidad de Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canadá. Para comprender el por qué se ha transitado de un enfoque-curso a un enfoque-programa, presentamos en primer lugar algunos elementos contextuales de la formación inicial docente en Quebec. Entregamos enseguida algunas informaciones relevantes del enfoque programa para, finalmente, a título ilustrativo, presentar la experiencia de un programa y de un dispositivo pedagógico que ponen en evidencia las ventajas y límites de dicho enfoque.

 

 
Innovación curricular en los grados de maestro en la facultad HUHEZI (Mondragon Unibertsitatea): la materia Educación intercultural y educación en valores
Authors: Barquín Amelia , Alzola Maiztegi Nerea , Madinabeitia Medrano Monika
Published: December 2017

Este artículo tiene por objeto narrar la experiencia de innovación curricular de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (HUHEZI) de Mondragon Unibertsitatea, concretada en la creación y desarrollo de la materia denominada Educación intercultural y educación en valores de los grados de maestro (Grado de Educación Primaria y Grado de Educación Infantil). 

En el texto se contextualiza la experiencia en el marco cooperativo del grupo Mondragón, se describen las claves y el proceso institucional y comunitario del proyecto educativo de la facultad HUHEZI  y se narra el desarrollo de la materia y su evolución desde su inicio en la Diplomatura de Magisterio en el curso 2005-2006 hasta el curso 2012-2013 en los Grado de maestro.

El núcleo del artículo consiste en la exposición de la organización de dicha materia, la metodología que utiliza, los foros de participación y formación de su profesorado, la dinámica constante de diseño, aplicación, valoración y mejora y la interdisciplinariedad, elementos representativos de la aplicación del proyecto educativo en la facultad HUHEZI. Asimismo se apuntan algunas dificultades y retos, como el difícil equilibrio entre la interdisciplinariedad de las materias y la constitución de los equipos docentes o el equilibrio entre los métodos de participación democráticos y el rigor académico y epistemológico necesarios en las áreas de la enseñanza universitaria, además de las serias consecuencias de las actuales dificultades económicas, de los vaivenes políticos y de los rápidos cambios socio-culturales.

 

 
El inicio de la experiencia interdisciplinar en la E.U. de Magisterio de Vitoria-Gasteiz: El módulo de profesión docente
Authors: Zelaieta Anta Edu , Aristizabal Llorente Pilar , Camino Ortiz de Barrón Igor , Goñi Palacios Eider
Published: December 2017

El proceso de regulación de la Educación Superior en el marco europeo, conocido como Plan Bolonia, ha supuesto muchos cambios, principalmente en lo concerniente a metodología y evaluación. Uno de los términos que, según algunos autores, caracterizan el actual marco de estudios superiores es el de “modularización”, relacionado con el proceso de estructuración y reforma de los nuevos planes de estudio, organizados precisamente por “módulos”. El trabajo que se presenta a continuación se enmarca en el módulo de Profesión docente, primero de los que componen –en los grados de Magisterio- la estructura modular de los nuevos grados. El reto que plantea el proceso de Bolonia difícilmente puede ser abordado sin una adecuada coordinación entre el profesorado, algo que resulta indispensable para el desarrollo de las competencias y el impulso del papel del alumnado como agente activo del aprendizaje. La utilización de metodologías activas e interdisciplinares supone la apertura de una nueva dimensión en el ámbito universitario, obliga a la ruptura de la otrora conocida estructura parcelaria e individual, y conduce a la búsqueda de nuevos espacios de intercambio que posibiliten que la formación del alumnado sea desarrollada conjuntamente. Entre las conclusiones se destaca la propia implementación del módulo, no exenta de ciertas dificultades, y se recogen las principales valoraciones que tanto profesorado como alumnado han realizado sobre esta primera experiencia interdisciplinar.

 

 
La coordinación del profesorado universitario: un elemento clave para la evaluación por competencias
Authors: Velasco Quintana Paloma Julia , Rodríguez Jiménez Rosa María , Terrón López María José
Published: December 2017

En el ámbito de la educación universitaria, aunque no sólo en él, la evaluación de competencias surge como un aspecto clave si queremos ser coherentes con el nuevo paradigma educativo.  En este sentido, una efectiva coordinación entre docentes puede ayudar a poner en común dificultades, a afrontar las diferentes tareas y a consensuar criterios de evaluación, con el foco puesto en la búsqueda de una mejora continua de la práctica docente. En este artículo se presenta un proyecto de coordinación de profesores de diferentes áreas de conocimiento, pero con las mismas inquietudes: cómo desarrollar y evaluar competencias genéricas en el aula. Para ello han realizado un trabajo común en sus materias organizando las distintas tareas en diferentes fases: se han seleccionado y definido las competencias genéricas a desarrollar, se han consensuado indicadores y realizado diversas rúbricas para la evaluación de las mismas y se han diseñado actividades formativas específicas en las cuales se ha implementado esta evaluación. Con el objetivo de implicar al alumnado se ha realizado autoevaluación y co-evaluación.  Además, para evaluar el impacto de este trabajo de coordinación se ha recogido la percepción tanto de los alumnos como de los docentes implicados ante las nuevas herramientas de evaluación diseñadas, mediante cuestionarios específicos y sesiones grupales de reflexión.

 

 
La coordinación de la docencia de grado en el marco del EEES: El caso de la Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales y Turismo de Ourense
Authors: Sanchez Fernandez Patricio , Rivo López Elena , Del Rio Rama Mª Cruz
Published: December 2017

En los últimos años, la tecnología se ha ido incorporando a la enseñanza, dando lugar a la aparición de nuevos escenarios educativos, al mismo tiempo que ha permitido  la puesta en marcha de procesos de mejora de la calidad en la misma.

Con este trabajo se expone la experiencia de coordinación docente desarrollada en la Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales y Turismo de Ourense, consistente en la elaboración de un cronograma que recoge las principales actividades evaluables de las diferentes materias durante un cuatrimestre. Dos eran los principales objetivos de esta experiencia: por un lado, facilitar al estudiante la planificación de sus tareas dentro del proceso de evaluación continua, y por otro, detectar por parte de los Coordinadores de Curso solapamientos y sobrecargas de trabajo.

Para alcanzar estos fines se utilizó una herramienta tecnológica como el Google Calendar  alcanzando unos resultados que pueden ser considerados como satisfactorios.

 

 
Análisis de la tasa de éxito en la asignatura de Contabilidad de Costes
Authors: Tejada Ponce Ángel , Pérez Morote Rosario , Ramírez Córcoles Yolanda , Tejedo Romero Francisca , Pontones Rosa Carolina
Published: December 2017

 La implantación en España del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES) ha supuesto un cambio sustancial en las prácticas tradicionales de la enseñanza universitaria, introduciendo importantes cambios tanto en la metodología docente como en los criterios de evaluación. En este trabajo se presenta la experiencia llevada a cabo en la Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales de Albacete en la asignatura Contabilidad de Costes. El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar si las nuevas metodologías utilizadas en los últimos años y la introducción de nuevos criterios de evaluación han incidido positivamente en la mejora de los rendimientos y en la motivación de los alumnos de la asignatura de Contabilidad de Costes, la cual es impartida en el tercer curso del Grado en Administración y Dirección de Empresas (ADE). Para alcanzar este objetivo se han comparado las calificaciones obtenidas por los alumnos durante los cursos académicos 2009/2010 y 2010/2011 (donde se aplica una metodología ECTS y una evaluación continua) con las alcanzadas en los dos cursos académicos inmediatamente anteriores: 2007/2008 y 2008/2009 (en los que prevaleció una metodología docente consistente en la clase magistral y en un examen final que suponía el 100% de la calificación). Los resultados obtenidos evidencian que, con las nuevas metodologías docentes y el uso de un sistema de evaluación continua, se logra una mayor tasa de alumnos presentados y un menor abandono de la asignatura.

 

 
Características de las tareas académicas que favorecen aprendizaje autorregulado y la cognición distribuida en estudiantes universitarios
Authors: Garello María Virginia , Rinaudo María Cristina
Published: December 2017

La autorregulación de los aprendizajes implica principalmente el monitoreo y la regulación del propio desempeño para la consecución de las metas personales y educacionales, como consecuencia el estudiante autorregulado construye aprendizajes significativos y suele obtener buen rendimiento académico. El aprendizaje autorregulado implica un aspecto social que incluye interacciones con pares y profesores que actúan en calidad de correguladores de los aprendizajes.  Los profesores serían los responsables de construir soportes sociales dentro de las clases, como las oportunidades de colaboración entre pares en la realización de las tareas. La noción de cognición distribuida permite expresar que no pensamos ni aprendemos solos, sino en colaboración con otras personas y en asociación con herramientas que ofrece la cultural. Nos propusimos estudiar los procesos de aprendizaje autorregulado y de cognición distribuida en estudiantes universitarios, a través de la implementación de dos estudios de diseño en los que participaron 172 estudiantes en los años 2007 y 2008, en la Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. A través de las actividades y protocolos implementados se pudo analizar los aspectos de las tareas que favorecen en los estudiantes procesos de autorregulación de sus desempeños y participación en procesos colaborativos con sus pares. Dichos aspectos serían: demandas de reflexión sobre problemas que pueden encontrar en el ejercicio de su rol profesional, tareas que impliquen algún nivel de control y evaluación, trabajos grupales, instancias de integración de conocimientos previos, tareas extraclases, instancias de feedback sobre las tareas, tareas de autoinforme metacognitivo y motivacional y tareas con posibilidades de revisión. 

 

 
Presentación del monográfico
Authors: Castillo Niño Manuel , Brailovsky Carlos Alberto
Published: December 2017

Presentación realizada por  los coordinadores del monográfico "La Docencia en Ciencias de la Salud".
Presentación del monográfico: Competencias docentes en la Educación Superior
Authors: Torra Bitlloch Inmaculada , Esteban Moreno Rosa María
Published: December 2017

Las nuevas directrices educativas derivadas de la convergencia de los estudios universitarios en el Espacio Europeo, demandan del profesorado la adquisición de nuevos conocimientos y la actualización de las capacidades requeridas para la transmisión del saber. A lo largo de la vida profesional activa, los profesores universitarios desarrollan tareas docentes, de investigación y, en menor grado, de gestión. A menudo, en la universidad española, la dedicación y producción en el ámbito de la investigación se ve más reconocida que la dedicación a la tarea docente, donde el profesorado ha adquirido un papel relevante, no como transmisor del conocimiento, sino como impulsor del mismo. Esta circunstancia precisa de formación complementaria y continua para usar sus capacidades, sus competencias profesionales y destrezas docentes actualizándolas y adaptándolas a los cambios que se están produciendo (Antón Ares, 2005:102).

 

El término competencia, se ha generalizado de tal forma, que en la universidad es un concepto debatido, rechazado o aceptado, y todavía se está consensuando su definición correcta o lo que es más importante, la manera de ser dueños de ellas y manejarlas adecuadamente con nuestros estudiantes. La mayoría de los profesores universitarios sabemos perfectamente que nuestra tarea como docente es una actividad viva que constantemente debe adaptarse al perfil de los estudiantes a los que nos dirigimos. No es lo mismo plantear la docencia para alumnos que ingresan de nuevo en la universidad que para los de una determinada especialidad y de cursos avanzados. El enfoque también suele ser distinto si, por ejemplo, la materia que se imparte es instrumental o bien se relaciona muy directamente con el título que cursa el estudiante.

Sin embargo, no es ninguna novedad que en los últimos años, la función docente del profesorado universitario está sufriendo transformaciones rápidas e importantes. Las razones de estos cambios pueden ser diversas: la adecuación de la enseñanza a los perfiles que presentan los estudiantes que, en estos momentos, acceden a la universidad, la reformulación
de las enseñanzas universitarias en el Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior, la renovación
del perfil del profesor universitario…
Reflexiones en torno a la competencia evaluadora del profesorado en la Educación Superior
Authors: Rodríguez Gómez Gregorio , Ibarra Sáiz Mª Soledad
Published: December 2017

Las aportaciones que se presentan en este artículo parten de la experiencia de los autores a lo largo de los últimos años, en los que han trabajado en colaboración con un gran número de profesores universitarios de las diferentes ramas de conocimiento. Se presenta, en primer lugar, una reflexión en torno a la necesidad de ir estableciendo un lenguaje común que permita al profesorado de Educación Superior compartir las experiencias e innovaciones de una forma clara, eficaz, eficiente y que puedan ser fácilmente intercambiables y comunicadas. En segundo lugar, se centra la atención en dos aspectos que en estos últimos años están acaparando la atención del profesorado con la intención de introducir innovaciones en la actividad evaluadora: a) las innovaciones en torno a la distribución del poder de la evaluación, con la incorporación de estrategias evaluativas que faciliten la participación, tales como la autoevaluación, la evaluación entre iguales o la coevaluación; y b) las relacionadas con la incorporación y uso de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación, presentando algunos recursos de los que el profesorado podrá hacer uso para mejorar su competencia evaluadora, partiendo de la base de que un aprendizaje sostenible exige una evaluación sostenible, y ello sólo se producirá si el profesorado se transforma en facilitador que pone los medios para que sean los estudiantes quienes se apropien de su proceso de aprendizaje.

 

 
Respaldo al investigador que es también docente
Authors: Alpay Esat
Published: December 2017

Las tensiones entre los roles investigadores y docentes en la universidad son de sobras conocidas. Hasta la fecha, la formación del profesorado sólo ha tenido en cuenta de forma parcial esta problemática, así como las motivaciones, predisposición y prioridades del investigador que es a la vez profesor. Este artículo ofrece una descripción general de la formación del profesorado (en cuanto a contenido y a proceso) adecuada a un entorno enfocado a la investigación. Concretamente se da información sobre el planteamiento de la formación adoptado recientemente por la universidad Imperial College London. Este enfoque incluye aprendizaje experiencial basado en la práctica, apoyo e input de una amplia comunidad (por ejemplo pares, pares sénior y expertos en educación), clara contextualización respecto a la disciplina y propiedad/interiorización, y énfasis en los potenciales paralelismos entre docencia e investigación así como el valor de la docencia para la investigación. Además, se promueven aquellas prácticas docentes que aprovechan el rol investigador y el potencial institucional, y se ejemplifican mediante la noción de docencia que respalda la investigación.