Active methods in electricity and magnetism courses: Influence of degree, academic level and gender on student performance.

The performance of first-year students in electromagnetism (E&M) courses of different engineering degrees at a Spanish public university was measured using the Brief Electricity and Magnetism Assessment (BEMA), a standard research-based instrument to assess students' understanding after attending introductory courses in electricity and magnetism. In all cases, Flipped classroom (FC) built on information and communications technology was used. The objective of this paper is to analyse if the gain in the BEMA pre and post-test results is influenced by several factors such as the degree, the students' academic grade, and gender.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infections in Hospitalized Patients in Peru.

There is a knowledge gap in the epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causing bloodstream infections (BSIs) in Peru. Through a surveillance study in 13 hospitals of 10 Peruvian regions (2017-2019), we assessed the proportion of MRSA among S. aureus BSIs as well as the molecular typing of the isolates.

Life cycle assessment of routinely used endoscopic instruments and simple intervention to reduce our environmental impact.

Objectives: GI endoscopy units represent the third largest producers of medical waste. We aimed to determine endoscopic instrument composition and life cycle assessment (LCA) and to assess a sustainability proposal based on a mark on the instruments that identifies parts can be safely recycled or ''.

Design: Material composition analysis and LCA of forceps, snares and clips from four different manufacturers (A-D) were performed with four different methods.

Engineered Highly Porous Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogels with Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and Graphene Nanosheets for Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering: Morphology, Water Sorption, Thermal, Mechanical, Electrical Properties, and Biocompatibility.

Electroactive composite materials are very promising for musculoskeletal tissue engineering because they can be applied in combination with electrostimulation. In this context, novel graphene-based poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/polyvinyl alcohol (PHBV/PVA) semi-interpenetrated networks (semi-IPN) hydrogels were engineered with low amounts of graphene (G) nanosheets dispersed within the polymer matrix to endow them with electroactive properties. The nanohybrid hydrogels, obtained by applying a hybrid solvent casting-freeze-drying method, show an interconnected porous structure and a high water-absorption capacity (swelling degree > 1200%).

Biomimetic Growth of Hydroxyapatite in Hybrid Polycaprolactone/Graphene Oxide Ultra-Porous Scaffolds.

This paper reports the preparation and characterization of hybrid scaffolds composed of polycaprolactone (PCL) and different graphene oxide (GO) amounts, intending to incorporate the intrinsic characteristics of their constituents, such as bioactivity and biocidal effect. These materials were fabricated by a solvent-casting/particulate leaching technique showing a bimodal porosity (macro and micro) that was around 90%. The highly interconnected scaffolds were immersed in a simulated body fluid, promoting the growth of a hydroxyapatite (HAp) layer, making them ideal candidates for bone tissue engineering.

Pro-Myogenic Environment Promoted by the Synergistic Effect of Conductive Polymer Nanocomposites Combined with Extracellular Zinc Ions.

A new strategy based on the combination of electrically conductive polymer nanocomposites and extracellular Zn ions as a myogenic factor was developed to assess its ability to synergically stimulate myogenic cell response. The conductive nanocomposite was prepared with a polymeric matrix and a small amount of graphene (G) nanosheets (0.7% /) as conductive filler to produce an electrically conductive surface.

Classification Predictive Model for Air Leak Detection in Endoworm Enteroscopy System.

Current enteroscopy techniques present complications that are intended to be improved with the development of a new semi-automatic device called Endoworm. It consists of two different types of inflatable cavities. For its correct operation, it is essential to detect in real time if the inflatable cavities are malfunctioning (presence of air leakage).

Analysis of the 'Endoworm' prototype's ability to grip the bowel in in vitro and ex vivo models.

Access to the small bowel by means of an enteroscope is difficult, even using current devices such as single-balloon or double-balloon enteroscopes. Exploration time and patient discomfort are the main drawbacks. The prototype 'Endoworm' analysed in this paper is based on a pneumatic translation system that, gripping the bowel, enables the endoscope to move forward while the bowel slides back over its most proximal part.

Data set on the effectiveness of flip teaching on engineering students' performance in the physics lab compared to Traditional Methodology.

This paper shows the data of the Flip Teaching and Traditional Methodology on the laboratory practice in two subjects, Physics and Electricity, of a technical degree. The laboratory and final grades of these subjects were shown in four consecutive years. The characteristics of all four years were quite similar, except that the Traditional teaching Methodology (TM) was used in two, while Flip Teaching methodology (FT) was applied in the other two.

Morphology, Crystallinity, and Molecular Weight of Poly(ε-caprolactone)/Graphene Oxide Hybrids.

A study was carried out to determine the effects of graphene oxide (GO) filler on the properties of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) films. A series of nanocomposites were prepared, incorporating different graphene oxide filler contents (0.1, 0.

Endoworm: A new semi-autonomous enteroscopy device.

Using enteroscopes with therapeutic capacity to explore the small intestine entails certain limitations, including long exploration times, patient discomfort, the need for sedation, a high percentage of incomplete explorations and a long learning curve. This article describes the advances and setbacks encountered in designing the new Endoworm enteroscopy system, a semi-autonomous device consisting of a control unit and three cavities that inflate and deflate in such a way that the bowel retracts over the endoscope. The system can be adapted to any commercial enteroscope.

Kinetic study of thermal degradation of chitosan as a function of deacetylation degree.

Thermal degradation of chitosan with varying deacetylation degree (DD) ranging between 50 and 85% was analyzed by dynamic thermogravimetric analysis at different heating rates. The present study focused on the temperature range between 500 and 800K, above water evaporation. Thermal degradation showed a main degradation stage in this temperature interval with a second stage that appeared in the weight derivative curves as a shoulder in the high temperature side of the main peak with increasing intensity as the DD decreased.

Determining the influence of N-acetylation on water sorption in chitosan films.

Water absorption in chitosan rapidly increases when the deacetylation degree decreases between 85 and 45%. This seems to contradict the fact that water absorption in chitin is much lower than that of chitosan. The aim of this paper is to understand this feature by measuring the main parameters affecting equilibrium water content.

Biomimetic hydroxyapatite coating on pore walls improves osteointegration of poly(L-lactic acid) scaffolds.

Polymer-ceramic composites obtained as the result of a mineralization process hold great promise for the future of tissue engineering. Simulated body fluids (SBFs) are widely used for the mineralization of polymer scaffolds. In this work an exhaustive study with the aim of optimizing the mineralization process on a poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) macroporous scaffold has been performed.

Alkaline degradation study of linear and network poly(ε-caprolactone).

Alkaline hydrolysis of a polycaprolactone (PCL) network obtained by photopolymerization of a PCL macromer was investigated. The PCL macromer was obtained by the reaction of PCL diol with methacrylic anhydride. Degradation of PCL network is much faster than linear PCL; the weight loss rate is approximately constant until it reaches around 70%, which happens after approximately 60 h in PCL network and 600 h in linear PCL.

Physical characterization of polycaprolactone scaffolds.

Films and sponges were prepared from a solution of Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) in tetrahydrofuran (THF). The porosity, crystallinity, and mechanical properties of the samples were studied. Porosity of around 15% was obtained for the films produced by evaporation of THF at room temperature.