Exploring Teachers' Technology Integration Self-Efficacy through the 2017 ISTE Standards.

This quantitative study examined self-efficacy as a factor in teachers' technology use and integration efforts in urban K-12 classroom settings of 327 Catholic school teachers in Southern California. This study employed an online survey that utilized the Technology Integration Confidence Scale (TICS) version 3, an instrument developed by the first author which is aligned to the ISTE (2017) Standards for Educators, and found that, on average, participating teachers had a fair level of confidence (i.e., they are fairly but not highly confident) in both using and integrating technology (M = 3.2, SD = .73). Accordingly, the study established participating teachers' level of confidence in using and applying technology through sustained continuous professional development intervention as a key implication that influenced teachers' self-efficacy in leveraging technology for professional practice.

Effects of Risk Factors on Belizean Adolescents' Academic Behaviors and Grit after Prolonged Absence During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This causal-comparative study explored the effects of risk factors-family status, parental marital status, family income, and parent education level-on Belizean adolescents' academic behaviors and grit (passion and perseverance in goal achievement) following prolonged absence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected online using a demographic survey, the Grit-S Scale (Duckworth & Quinn, 2009), coupled with eight additional items to measure academic behaviors (attendance, preparedness, attention, note-taking, participation, organization, use of out-of-school time, and homework completion and submission) for success (Farrington et al., 2012) from secondary and tertiary students in Belize. With rare exception, Belizean education took place in person before the pandemic. This changed to remote teaching and learning during the pandemic. Findings showed that adolescents from the defined risk factor of single-parent households experienced greater declines across all eight academic behaviors. Additionally, this effect was more pronounced for adolescents who experienced the loss of a parent from divorce or death of a parent. For grit, there were two key outcomes: (a) adolescents from nuclear and higher income families had slightly higher levels of grit; and (b) adolescents from parents with lower educational attainment had significantly higher levels of grit than their peers. Based on these findings, recommendations include more study of schools that invest in becoming trauma responsive when evaluating engagement and performance during prolonged absences. Future research should assess adolescents' level of academic behaviors, grit, and other noncognitive factors.

La superación profesional psicopedagógica del docente universitario en educación médica: ¿reto o utopía? / The psycho-pedagogical professional improvement of the university teacher in medical education: challenge or utopia?

RESUMEN La educación médica superior, y en especial la formación de médicos, se encuentran ante importantes desafíos y enfrentan el reto de asumir numerosos cambios para garantizar la calidad requerida en sus procesos, dar satisfacción a las crecientes demandas y cumplir su encargo social. En un escenario cada vez más complejo, marcado por las afectaciones de la pandemia de la COVID-19, se evidencia la importancia de la preparación de los profesores universitarios para cumplimentar los objetivos propuestos. Es propósito de los autores compartir experiencias sobre la superación de los docentes en los contextos educativos actuales, comunicar las deficiencias en la preparación psicopedagógica de profesores universitarios de la educación médica encontradas en investigación realizada y proponer la utilización de un programa de superación profesional psicopedagógica para los docentes de la carrera de Medicina, elaborado como salida de la referida investigación.

ABSTRACT Higher medical education and especially the training of physicians are facing important challenges and face the challenge of assuming numerous changes to guarantee the quality required in their training processes, satisfy the growing demands and fulfill their social commitment. In an increasingly complex scene, marked by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of preparing university professors to meet the proposed objectives is evident. It is the purpose of the authors to share experiences on the improvement of teachers in current educational contexts, communicate the deficiencies in the psycho-pedagogical preparation of university professors of medical education found in the research carried out and propose the use of a psycho-pedagogical professional improvement program for teachers of the Medicine degree, prepared as a result of the aforementioned investigation.

Thread- and Capillary Tube-Based Electrodes for the Detection of Glucose and Acetylthiocholine.

An electrochemical sensor for the detection of glucose and acetylthiocholine (ATC) using thread- and capillary tube-based electrodes is described. Three nylon thread-based electrodes were fabricated by painting pieces of trifurcated nylon thread with conductive inks and threading the electrodes into capillary tubes. Two platforms, one paper-based and the other utilizing bubble wrap, were examined. For the glucose detection, a solution containing glucose oxidase (GOx), potassium ferricyanide (K3[Fe(CN)6]), and increasing concentrations of glucose (0-20 mM) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was spotted onto the two platforms. Similarly, increasing concentrations of ATC (0-9.84 mg/mL) in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (0.08 U/mL) and PBS solution were detected. Using cyclic voltammetry (CV), a scanning voltage was applied to yield a graph of voltage applied (V) vs. current output (A). For both platforms, both glucose and ATC concentrations were observed to be linearly proportional to the current output as demonstrated by the increased height of the oxidation peaks. The three-electrode system was simple to fabricate, inexpensive, and could be used for multiple readings.

Production of a NiO/Al primary battery employing powder-based electrodes.

This paper describes the use of aluminum and zinc as anodic materials for a battery employing nickel (II) oxide (NiO) as cathode. Comparison of both materials resulted in the development of a compact, cost effective, and easy to use primary NiO/Al battery employing an alkaline electrolyte. The system features electrodes composed of powder forms of the active materials on modified paper substrates that are contained in a simple multilayer design utilizing thin laminated plastic materials to provide structure and flexibility to the battery as well as a paper separator. Various concentrations of potassium hydroxide (KOH) electrolyte were examined and maximum performance was observed at 6 M KOH. A maximum current density and power density of 1.94 mA/cm2 and 1 mW/cm2 , respectively was achieved. This user-friendly device was able to produce a maximum capacity of 2.33 mAh/g when 2 mA/g was applied. This work demonstrates the viability of a paper-based battery featuring powder electrodes as a possible power source for microelectronic devices.

Cord-Based Microfluidic Chips as A Platform for ELISA and Glucose Assays.

This paper describes the development and application of microfluidic cord-based analytical devices (µCADs) in two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and glucose assay. In this study, biotinylated goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin (IgG) antibody, rabbit IgG antibody, and glucose are quantitatively detected. In the ELISA systems, the antibody is spotted on the cord at the detection site and a series of washes, followed by streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase (Strep-ALP) or alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-conjugated secondary antibody and colorimetric substrate, completing the experiment. The devices are subsequently scanned and analyzed yielding a correlation between inverse yellow or inverse blue intensity and antibody concentration. For the first ELISA, a linear range of detection was observed at lower concentrations (2.50 × 10-4-1.75 × 10-3 mg/mL) of Strep-ALP with saturation of the enzyme achieved at higher concentrations (>2.50 × 10-4). For the second ELISA, the L50 was demonstrated to be 167.6 fmol/zone. The glucose assay consisted of spotting increasing concentrations of glucose on the analysis sites and transporting, via capillary action, a solution containing glucose oxidase (GOx), horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and potassium iodide (KI) to the detection sites realizing a yellow-brown color indicating oxidation of iodide to iodine. The device was then dried, scanned, and analyzed to show the correlation between yellow inverse intensity and glucose. Glucose in artificial urine showed good correlation using the devices.

Paper-based microfluidic devices for glucose assays employing a metal-organic framework (MOF).

This paper describes the development of two microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs), one well-based and the other based on a lateral flow assay (LFA) configuration, to detect glucose via a colorimetric assay using the solid metal-organic framework (MOF) Zr-PCN-222(Fe), to encapsulate glucose oxidase (GOx). The well-based platform consisted of laminate sheets and multiple layers of wax-printed chromatography paper. Solutions of KI and glucose placed into the well flowed through the device and reacted with the GOx@MOF species sandwiched between the paper layers realizing a yellow-brown color. The LFA platform consisted of chromatography paper between parafilm and polyvinyl acetate (PVA) layers. GOx@MOFs spotted on the paper subjected to solutions of KI and glucose yielded a brown color. The devices were then dried, scanned, and analyzed yielding a correlation between average inverse yellow intensity and glucose concentrations. The development of these devices employing MOFs as biomimetic catalysts should further expand the applications of microfluidic technologies for sensors a variety of analytes.

A colorimetric assay system for dopamine using microfluidic paper-based analytical devices.

We report the colorimetric detection of dopamine (DA) on microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) using an oxidation-reduction method. Here, dopamine reacts with ferric chloride forming reduced Fe2+ that subsequently reacts with phenanthroline to form the red tris(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) complex. The devices were fabricated by wax printing and changes in color intensity were recorded using a common cell phone. Subsequent analysis using Photoshop software, yielded a limit of detection (LOD) for DA of 0.37 µmol/L with a linear range of 0.527-4.75 µmol/L and relative standard deviation of 0.11% (inter-day) and 0.15% (intra-day) for n = 15 paper chips. The effects of detection conditions have been investigated and are discussed. Cow serum samples and human blood serum and plasma samples were detected. The work, herein, demonstrates the potential of this method as a low cost and rapid colorimetric technique to detect DA in real samples.

An optimized microfluidic paper-based NiOOH/Zn alkaline battery.

In this paper, an alkaline nickel oxide hydroxide/zinc (NiOOH/Zn) battery featuring a cellulose matrix separator between electrodes is presented. The metallic electrodes and the paper separator are inserted in a layer-by-layer assembly that provides mechanical stability to the system resulting in a lightweight and easy-to-use device. The battery was optimized for the amount of NiOOH-ink used at the cathode (11.1 mg/cm2 ) and thickness of the paper membrane separating the electrodes (360 µm). The battery was able to function using a small volume (75 µL) of 1.5 M potassium hydroxide (KOH) producing a maximum voltage, current density, and power density of 1.35 ± 0.05 V, 10.62 ± 0.57 mA/cm², and 0.56 ± 0.01 mW/cm², respectively. The system displayed a maximum current of 23.9 mA and a maximum power of 1.26 mW. Moreover, four batteries connected in series were able to power a small flameless candle for approximately 22 min. This work has potential in fulfilling the demands for short-term and lightweight power supplies.

Microfluidic Paper-based Analytical Devices (µPADs): Miniaturization and Enzyme Storage Studies.

This paper describes the design and development of miniaturized microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) for biological assays and enzyme storage instruments. Here, a glucose assay utilizing glucose oxidase (GOx), horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and potassium iodide (KI) is used as the model system. The efficacy of the miniaturized devices is further examined by assessing the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Two types of µPADs were developed: one, "strip" chips of detection zones of area 0.5, 0.1 cm2 and, two, "grid" chips of detection zone 0.05 cm2. The devices are easily fabricated via a wax printing process whereby lines of wax are deposited onto chromatographic paper and heated to create rows of hydrophobic barriers. The "strip" chips were subjected to three different temperature environments (-20, 0, and 20°C) over 30 days and glucose assays conducted at intermittent times yielding a correlation between corrected average inverse yellow intensity, days, and glucose concentration. Calculated and experimentally derived color intensity values for 1, 4, and 9 mM glucose concentrations after a 7-day storage study showed a good correlation (0.89 - 15.76% error). Both types of µPADs are effective platforms as potential point-of-care (POC) diagnostic devices and display minimal enzyme denaturation. µPADs of this size show promise as alternative devices for resource-limited regions and especially those areas where materials and instrumentation are not always available.

3D Multilayered paper- and thread/paper-based microfluidic devices for bioassays.

In this paper we describe the fabrication of novel 3D microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (3D-µPADs) and a 3D microfluidic thread/paper-based analytical device (3D-µTPAD) to detect glucose and BSA through colorimetric assays. The 3D-µPAD and 3D-µTPAD consisted of three (wax, heat pressed wax-printed paper, single-sided tape) and four (hole-punched single-sided tape, blank chromatography circles, heat-pressed wax-printed paper, hole-punched single-sided tape containing trifurcated thread) layers, respectively. The saturation curves for each assay were generated for all platforms. For the glucose assay, a solution of glucose oxidase (GOx), horseradish peroxidase, and potassium iodide was flowed through each platform and, upon contact with glucose, generated a yellow-brown color indicative of the oxidation of iodide to iodine. For the protein assay, BSA was flowed through each device and, upon contact with citrate buffer and tetrabromophenol blue, resulted in a color change from yellow to blue. The devices were dried, scanned, and analyzed yielding a correlation between either yellow intensity and glucose concentration or cyan intensity and BSA concentration. A similar glucose assay, using unknown concentrations of glucose in artificial urine, was conducted and, when compared to the saturation curve, showed good correlation between the theoretical and actual concentrations (percent differences <10%). The development of 3D-µPADs and 3D-µTPADs can further facilitate the use of these platforms for colorimetric bioassays.

Desarrollar la inteligencia emocional a través de la labor del profesor guía / Develop emotional intelligence through the work of the guidance teacher

Fundamento: la labor del profesor guía requiere del conocimiento e influencia de la inteligencia emocional como vía de desarrollo de una ética revolucionaria, humanista, y de adecuado comportamiento ciudadano en los procesos de formación de sus estudiantes, para que cumplan con éxito los fines académicos, científicos y sociopolíticos exigidos por la sociedad. Objetivo: elaborar actividades para desarrollar la inteligencia emocional de los estudiantes de ciencias médicas a través de la labor del profesor guía. Métodos: se realizó una investigación de desarrollo en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Villa Clara durante el curso 2015-2016. Se utilizaron métodos de nivel teórico: histórico-lógico, análisis-síntesis, inducción-deducción, tránsito de lo abstracto a lo concreto y sistémico-estructural; y empíricos: análisis documental, observación científica, encuestas en forma de entrevistas a directivos docentes y estudiantes. Resultados: se diagnosticó que resultan insuficientes el conocimiento sobre la inteligencia emocional, y su rol en la formación de los profesionales de la salud, además de que no se intenciona la necesidad de trabajar en función de desarrollarla desde los documentos normativos y los procesos de dirección, por lo que se elaboraron actividades con ese propósito, las cuales fueron valoradas por criterios de especialistas. Conclusiones: se consideraron como adecuadas por la formulación de sus objetivos, su estructura y su correspondencia con las políticas del Ministerio de Educación Superior y el Ministerio de Salud Pública.

Background: the work of the guidance teacher requires the knowledge and influence of emotional intelligence as a way to develop a revolutionary ethic, humanistic, and adequate citizen behavior in the training processes of their students, to successfully meet the academic, scientific and socio-political purposes and requirements of society. Objective: to elaborate activities to develop the emotional intelligence of medical science students through the work of the guidance teacher. Methods: a development research was carried out at Villa Clara University of Medical Sciences during the 2015-2016 academic year. Methods of the theoretical level were used: historical-logical, analysis-synthesis, induction-deduction, transition from the abstract to the concrete and systemic-structural; and of the empirical level: documentary analysis, scientific observation, surveys in the form of interviews with teaching executives and students. Results: it was diagnosed that there is insufficient knowledge about emotional intelligence, and its role in the training of health professionals, in addition to the fact that the need to work in order to develop it from the ruling documents and the management processes is not intentional, so activities were developed for this purpose, which were assessed by specialists. Conclusions: they were considered adequate for the formulation of their objectives, their structure and their correspondence with the policies of the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Public Health.

Microfluidic thread-based electrode system to detect glucose and acetylthiocholine.

A reusable and simple to fabricate electrochemical sensor for the detection of glucose and acetylthiocholine using thread-based electrodes and nylon thread is described. The fabrication of the device consisted of two steps. First, three nylon-based electrodes (reference, working, and counter) were painted with one layer of conductive inks (silver and carbon ink, or silver/silver chloride ink). The electrodes were taped onto parafilm, and a piece of white nylon thread was wrapped around each electrode connecting the three electrodes. For the glucose system, a PBS solution containing glucose oxidase (GOx) (10 mg/mL), and potassium ferricyanide (K3 [Fe(CN)6 ]) (10 mg/mL) as mediator, was dried onto the thread, and increasing concentrations of glucose (0-15 mM) was added to the thread and measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The current output from the glucose oxidation was proportional to the concentration of glucose. For the second system, a solution of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (0.08 U/mL) in PBS was added to the nylon thread, and increasing concentrations of acetylthiocholine (ATC) (0-9.84 mg/mL) was added and measured by CV. The current output from the oxidation of thiocholine (produced by AChE reacting with ATC) was proportional to the concentrations of ATC added to the thread. From both systems, a graph of current output versus substrate concentration was produced and fitted with a linear regression line that gave R2 values of 0.985 (GOX /glucose) and 0.995 (AChE/ATC).

Preparación de profesores en ciencias médicas: una visión desde las páginas de EDUMECENTRO / Preparation of professors in medical sciences: a vision from the pages of EDUMECENTRO

La preparación sistemática del profesor en los aspectos científico-técnico, didáctico, filosófico, político-ideológico e informáticos es condición indispensable para emprender la función docente. Para cumplir con esta demanda, no solo debe dominar y estar actualizado en el contenido de su disciplina científica, sino que debe poseer una correcta preparación pedagógica para cumplir satisfactoriamente con sus funciones. En sus ediciones, la revista EDUMECENTRO ha contribuido a la preparación permanente de los docentes de las ciencias médicas, por lo que en el presente artículo se realiza una actualizada revisión de cómo, desde sus páginas, esta publicación seriada ha jugado un papel trascendental en la calidad de los procesos formativos en las ciencias médicas teniendo como premisa fundamental la preparación del profesor.

The systematic preparation of the teacher in the scientific-technical, didactic, philosophical, political-ideological and computing aspects is an indispensable condition to undertake the teaching function. To comply with this demand, professors not only must master and be updated in the content of their scientific disciplines, but also they must possess a correct pedagogical preparation. In its editions, the EDUMECENTRO magazine has contributed to the permanent preparation of medical sciences professors, so in this article an updated review of its pages is made, which manifests its effectiveness as a reference material at the disposal of the university professionals to improve the quality of training processes.

A microfluidic glucose sensor incorporating a novel thread-based electrode system.

An electrochemical sensor for the detection of glucose using thread-based electrodes and fabric is described. This device is relatively simple to fabricate and can be used for multiple readings after washing with ethanol. The fabrication of the chip consisted of two steps. First, three thread-based electrodes (reference, working, and counter) were fabricated by painting pieces of nylon thread with either layered silver ink and carbon ink or silver/silver chloride ink. The threads were then woven into a fabric chip with a beeswax barrier molded around the edges in order to prevent leaks from the tested solutions. A thread-based working electrode consisting of one layer of silver underneath two layers of carbon was selected to fabricate the final sensor system. Using the chip, a PBS solution containing glucose oxidase (GOx) (10 mg/mL), potassium ferricyanide (K3 [Fe(CN)6 ]) (10 mg/mL) as mediator, and different concentrations of glucose (0-25 mM), was measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV). It was found that the current output from the oxidation of glucose was proportional to the glucose concentrations. This thread-based electrode system is a viable sensor platform for detecting glucose in the physiological range.

Thread/paper- and paper-based microfluidic devices for glucose assays employing artificial neural networks.

This paper describes the fabrication of and data collection from two microfluidic devices: a microfluidic thread/paper based analytical device (µTPAD) and 3D microfluidic paper-based analytical device (µPAD). Flowing solutions of glucose oxidase (GOx), horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and potassium iodide (KI), through each device, on contact with glucose, generated a calibration curve for each platform. The resultant yellow-brown color from the reaction indicates oxidation of iodide to iodine. The devices were dried, scanned, and analyzed yielding a correlation between yellow intensity and glucose concentration. A similar procedure, using an unknown concentration of glucose in artificial urine, is conducted and compared to the calibration curve to obtain the unknown value. Studies to quantify glucose in artificial urine showed good correlation between the theoretical and actual concentrations, as percent differences were ≤13.0%. An ANN was trained on the four-channel CMYK color data from 54 µTPAD and 160 µPAD analysis sites and Pearson correlation coefficients of R = 0.96491 and 0.9739, respectively, were obtained. The ANN was able to correctly classify 94.4% (51 of 54 samples) and 91.2% (146 of 160 samples) of the µTPAD and µPAD analysis sites, respectively. The development of this technology combined with ANN should further facilitate the use of these platforms for colorimetric analysis of other analytes.

Thread- paper, and fabric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is an immunological assay commonly used to measure antibodies, antigens, proteins, and glycoproteins in biological samples. While the procedure is routine and straightforward, there are a number of variables (reagent selection, volume measurement, temperature, and time) that if not carefully considered, can affect the test outcome. Herein, we describe the development of microfluidic thread/paper-based analytical devices (µTPAD), microfluidic fabric-based analytical devices (µFAD), and microfluidic thread-based analytical devices (µTAD) as new platforms for ELISA. The quantitative detection of biotinylated goat anti-mouse IgG (system one) and rabbit IgG (system two) antibodies via colorimetric analysis is detailed. We explain the design and fabrication of the devices and the step-by-step protocol for the ELISA. A comparison between the techniques is described and the results obtained from them elucidated.

Enzyme Chemotaxis on Paper-based Devices.

Microfluidics has served as a technology for the design and development of a myriad of devices owing to their reduced reagent consumption rate and short sampling-to-result time. Chemotaxis is the movement of materials, particularly biological species, in response to the influence of chemical stimulation. Herein, we describe, for the first time, chemotactic behavior on a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (µPAD) to afford a distribution of products not obtainable under other (non-µPAD) experimental conditions using as a model enzyme-substrate system glucose oxidase (GOx) and glucose. µPADs are easily fabricated by patterning hydrophobic materials in hydrophilic paper. They are low cost, compatible with biological samples, and have shown promise as platforms for various applications and in resource-limited settings.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) based on thread, paper, and fabric.

This paper describes enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) utilizing microfluidic thread/paper-based analytical devices (µTPAD), microfluidic fabric-based analytical devices (µFAD), and microfluidic thread-based analytical devices (µTAD). Here, the quantitative detection of biotinylated goat anti-mouse IgG (system one) and rabbit IgG (system two) antibodies via colorimetric analysis is detailed. In both systems, antibody is spotted on the detection site and subjected to a series of washes, addition of streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase (Strep-ALP) (system 1) or alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-conjugated secondary antibody (system 2), and colorimetric substrate. The devices are scanned and analyzed yielding a correlation between inverse yellow (or purple) intensity. For system one, a linear range of detection at low concentrations of streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase (Strep-ALP) was observed befire the enzyme reached a Vmax . At higher concentrations of Strep-ALP, saturation is achieved for both the µTPAD and µFAD devices. For system two, the IC50 values obtained for the non-trifurcated and trifurcated µTADs were determined to be 180.2 fmol/zone and 133.8 fmol/zone, respectively. The IC50 value was demonstrated to be 1034 fmol/zone and 208.6 fmol/zone for the µTPADs and µFADs, respectively. For all devices the lowest concentration of Strep-ALP or rabbit IgG used in the assay was 3.75 × 10-4  mg/mL and 0.7 fmol/zone, respectively. The development of this technology should further facilitate the use of these platforms for ELISA to detect and quantitate antibodies.