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The purpose of this study was to carry out an analysis of the effectiveness of the Flipped Classroom methodology for teaching mathematics--specifically geometry, in an online environment. Specifically, we measured: (1) the academic achievement of students who were taught based on this method; and (2) the perceptions of satisfaction with this methodology and with the virtual sessions attended through digital resources. In order to gather the data a pre-experimental and ex-post-facto design was used with a sample of 113 secondary education students. Regarding academic performance, positive and significant differences were found between the pre-test and the post-test. In addition, different significant variables were found that affected the academic performance of the students, such as having previously failed the subject of mathematics, the perception of the students about their effort in learning mathematics or the educational level of the parents. In respect of the students' perceptions, the results showed that they were generally happy with the use of the Flipped Classroom methodology, bearing in mind that the environmental context in which the educational process takes place affects the students' perceptions. However, slightly negative perceptions were also found in respect of virtual sessions that made use of digital resources. These findings were significantly affected by the frequency with which resources and electronic devices were deployed. These results would support the integration of this methodology into the teaching of mathematics, where the use of digital resources to study geometry in particular helps to improve the different competences and skills of the students.

Messaging platforms are applications, generally mediated by an app, desktop program or the web, mainly used for synchronous communication among users. As such, they have been widely adopted officially by higher education establishments, after little or no study of their impact and perception by the teachers. We think that the introduction of these new tools and the opportunities and challenges they have needs to be studied carefully in order to adopt the model, as well as the tool, that is the most adequate for all parties involved. We already studied the perception of these tools by students, in this paper we examine the teachers' experiences and perceptions through a survey that we validated with peers, and what they think these tools should make or serve so that it enhances students learning and helps them achieve their learning objectives. The survey has been distributed among tertiary education teachers, both in universitary and other kind of tertiary establishments, based in Spain (mainly) and Spanish-speaking countries. We have focused on collecting teachers' preferences and opinions on the introduction of messaging platforms in their day-to-day work, as well as other services attached to them, such as chatbots. What we intend with this survey is to understand their needs and to gather information about the various educational use cases where these tools could be valuable. In addition, an analysis of how and when teachers' opinions towards the use of these tools varies across gender, experience, and their discipline of specialization is presented. The key findings of this study highlight the factors that can contribute to the advancement of the adoption of messaging platforms and chatbots in higher education institutions to achieve the desired learning outcomes.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of digital resources and virtual platforms is even more essential to continue the educational process, either in person or online, affecting all the members involved in the teaching-learning process of the students. Therefore, this study is aimed: (1) to know and compare the digital competence of the agents that are the main integrators of the educational community (parents, teachers, students) about the use of the computers, according to gender and educational stage (Pre-school, Primary and Secondary Education stages); and (2) to identify significant predictors that affect the acquisition of this competence. An ex-post-facto design was used with a sample of 786 participants from Andalusia (Spain). Research methods such as contrasts of means and multiple linear regression analysis were used. The results showed high average levels of basic digital competences for all the agents involved. A gender gap was found between mothers and fathers of students, with higher scores for the latter group. In addition, the use of videogames, the parents' academic background and the use of digital tablets or Google+ are the most significant predictors that affect the acquisition of this competence.

The increasing use of digital resources has changed the way of teaching, where platforms such as YouTube offer large repositories of educational videos. There are many theoretical studies that analyse the digital competences of teachers, but to a lesser extent on the behaviours and use that the teacher makes of this multimedia platform. Thus, the purpose of this study is the development of an instrument in which it is analysed how the behavioural intention of teachers on YouTube impacts their digital competence to search and select information, share information, and interact with other users of the platform, and create educational material. To achieve this, following the partial least squares (PLS) method of structural equation models, a higher-order causal model was proposed based on an adaptation and extension of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The study was carried out with a sample of 2157 teachers from all over Spain. The main result was that "behavioural" intention explained 22.70% of the true variance of teachers' digital competence. In addition, it has been possible to verify the reliability, convergent and discriminant validity of the established causal relationships, determining a model with acceptable goodness-of-fit. These findings show that it is a valid and reliable instrument to measure teachers' digital competences on YouTube, behavioural intention, and the system of relationships between factors.

The authors have developed a psychometric instrument with the purpose of assessing the digital competencies of teachers in aspects of cybersecurity. From the collection of data, different secondary objectives were carried out: (1) identify if there were significant differences regarding gender; (2) understand if there are significant differences based on various actions (use of different operating systems, two-step authentication, use of different passwords for applications and profiles), for each gender; (3) identify if the frequency of updating of passwords in LMS, emails, RRSS and apps correlate with the digital competencies of teachers in training, for each gender. For this purpose, an ex post facto ad hoc design was used based on a sample of 220 students enrolled in a Primary Education and Early Childhood Education course at the University of Malaga (Spain). The results show that the digital skills of these teachers of the future are at a low level, and that they find it hard to navigate their way in this new world. It is also concluded that there are significant differences with respect to gender in terms of various cybersecurity actions (use of the Mac operating system; two-step authentication). In addition, it was found that the frequency of updating passwords in LMS, emails, RRSS and apps affects the competences of the teachers in training in security and prevention, in both genders.

Teachers' communication with the educational community (students, families and teachers) may be different depending on the place where they reside. We ask ourselves whether teachers in rural areas are sufficiently prepared to carry out this communication through digital media. Thus, this study had as its aims to: (1) ascertain teachers' digital competence self-assessment about the utilisation of ICT resources to communicate with other teachers, students and families, according to gender, type of school, age and years of teaching experience; (2) analyse comparatively if significant differences exist in terms of digital competence level between the internal categories of each variable; (3) identify which digital resources are significant predictors. A non-experimental design was used with 847 rural teachers from different rural areas in Spain. The results showed an integrating attitude of every teacher-expert in their digital skills, regarding communication both with students and their families and with the other colleagues at the educational centre. We found differences in teachers' scores when comparing by gender and type of centre. Furthermore, we checked those applications such as Blogs, TikTok, Twitter and Moodle served were relevant predictors.

The purpose of this study is to analyse and compare the level of digital competence of higher education teaching staff in research work through the use of ICT resources. For this purpose, an ex post facto design was employed together with an instrument composed of 30 items classified into seven dimensions: digital skills, digital ethics, digital flow, anxiety towards ICT, quality of ICT resources, intention to use ICT, and ICT integration. The sample consisted of a total of 1704 higher education teachers from all over Spain. The results showed that, overall, there were no significant differences in the level of digital competence of teaching staff between the two genders. However, significant differences were found in the following dimensions: digital skills, digital ethics, ICT anxiety, quality of ICT resources, and intention to use ICT. These findings highlight the urgent need for university institutions to propose training plans to improve the digital competences of their teaching and research staff in those dimensions that have been found to be deficient.

The growing rise of information and communication technologies (ICT) in all areas of society demands that university professors have an adequate level of digital literacy, so that they can contribute effectively to the training of their students and respond to the demands of the job. The objective of this research is to know and compare the use by university teachers of different ICT resources, in their teaching, evaluation, and research (UTIC-EEI model, its acronym in Spanish), depending on the area of knowledge to which they belong (science and engineering-architecture, health sciences, art-humanities, and social-legal Sciences), in order to be able to take measures to effectively address the digital shortcomings of teachers. An ex post facto study is carried out, with a quantitative methodology utilising a survey technique, with a sample of 867 Spanish university teachers, with a descriptive and inferential analysis via ANOVA for multiple comparisons. The results showed a medium-high use by teachers of ICT resources in four areas, with there being a superior use in the teaching and research dimensions compared to the evaluation dimension in each area of knowledge. These data underline the need to continue training teachers to make excellent instrumental use of specific ICT resources in each area of knowledge.

The aim of this work is to describe several experiences of STEMbach in different areas: engineering, economics, materials, etc. The STEMbach is a program carried out by high school students during their two years of study to obtain their High School Diploma (equivalent to A-levels), designed for both the Humanities and Sciences modalities, and created alongside the Galician strategy for digital education. It encourages the vocation of the scholars towards scientific and technological research and allows a connection directly with the college education. The STEM works explained in this work were developed between the University of A Coruña and several high schools located in the region of Galicia (North-West of Spain). Results were very constructive for promoting STEM careers.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the digital competence of teachers on the use of YouTube as a didactic resource in the teaching and learning process of students. Specifically, this was analyzed and compared for each educational stage (Preschool Education, Primary Education, Secondary Education, Adult Education, and Vocational Education-VET) between genders of the teacher (female and male). For this, an ex post facto non-experimental design was used, with a sample of 2157 in-service teachers from all over Spain. Among the main results found in this study, teachers of all educational stages had satisfactory skills on the use of YouTube to search and communicate information, although low in relation to the creation of audio-visual material through YouTube. In addition, it was evidenced how gender was a significant factor which affected the competencies of teachers, in most of the educational stages analyzed.

Due to the rise of new technologies, further development of digital competence by professors is necessary. The aim of this paper is to know the pedagogical digital competence of lecturers in Spain, focused on a model called PDC-TER: ICT resources to Teach, to Evaluate and to Research; as well as to predict those variables that affect the level of this competence through different regressions (Multiple Linear Regression, MLR). A study has been carried out in the Spanish territory, with a total of 867 lecturers. For it, an ex post facto non-probabilistic study based on the survey technique has been proposed. The results show that the professors have an average level of digital pedagogical competence, while in the 2.0 tools for teaching and research dimensions, it has a medium high level of competence, as well as a medium level in relation to the use of tools 2.0 for the evaluation. Furthermore, one of the variables predictive of the level of digital competence in the three dimensions of the PDC-TER model, is the number of research and innovation projects in which they have participated. These data highlight the need to improve the digital competence of professors in order to meet the demands of the qualified professions of the future, and therefore, prepare students for it.

This study compares the level of digital competence of Spanish higher education teachers in the use of three types of ICT resources in the classroom: digital tools to consume information, digital tools to produce information, and emerging technologies. To measure the level of competence, the validated DigCompEdu Check-In instrument with an ex post facto design is used. The sample consists of 2180 university teachers from Andalusia (Spain) working in different areas of knowledge: Arts and Humanities, Sciences, Health Sciences, Engineering and Architecture, Social and Legal Sciences; and classified into three levels of teaching experience: between 0-5 years, 6-14 years, and 15 years or more. The results show that teachers with 15 or more years of experience represent the group with the most significant differences in regard to their level of digital competence when comparing the use of the three types of ICT resources; furthermore, the results were similar for all areas of knowledge. In addition, the visualization or creation of videos, as well as the visualization or creation of posters and concept maps, are the resources that were found to be most significant for the three levels of experience. For each specific area, it is recommended that each of their results is analysed in detail. Finally, further research is recommended to validate these preliminary findings in each of the knowledge areas.

We are experiencing a serious health crisis due to COVID-19 that has a major impact on the field of education. The educational system therefore needs to be updated and innovated, with the addition of digital resources, to adapt the teaching and learning processes to students with disabilities. To meet the goal of high-quality education, teachers must have adequate digital competence to face the educational demands that are placed on them. Therefore, the purposes of this study are: to know the teachers' knowledge about digital resources to support students with disabilities (O1); at each educational stage (O2), identify the variables that have a significant impact on the acquisition of teacher competence (O3); propose a selection of useful ICT resources for each type of disability (O4). An ex post facto design was used with 1194 teachers from Andalusia (Spain). The results showed the medium-low level of the teaching staff, especially in the higher education stage. In addition, gender, motivation, attitude and having students with special needs are determining factors in the development of teacher knowledge. The results highlight the urgent need for teachers to be trained in digital resources. We hope that the range of resources proposed in this study will help teachers enhance their teaching practice.

In the current socio-health situation, new educational challenges have emerged, such as the need to implement a virtual tutorial action. Therefore, this study has three objectives: (1) to investigate the level of digital competence that early childhood and primary school teachers possess to carry out quality online tutorial actions; (2) to analyse whether there are differences in use at both education stages; and (3) to identify which variables significantly affect the development of this competence at each educational stage. For this purpose, an ex post facto design was used, based on the survey technique, by means of non-probabilistic purposive sampling. The final sample consisted of a total of 1,069 educators working at the early childhood and primary education stages, from all over Spain. The results showed acceptable digital competence, with higher scores in the primary education stage, which may be due to characteristics of the students and the education stage itself, rather than to teachers' digital competences. On the other hand, it was found that the virtual tutorial action tasks are significantly influenced in the early childhood education stage by blogs, WhatsApp, Facebook, and number of tutoring hours per month with families, while for the primary stage they are influenced by blogs, WhatsApp, Twitter, ClassDojo, Moodle, tutoring hours, number of tutoring hours per month with families, and sex. Based on these results, there is an obvious need for educational institutions to continue to develop teacher training in relation to the use of resources to carry out adequate tutoring actions and thus increase the diversification in the use of resources.

This study is part of a research about the use of ICT resources by Higher Education teachers to teach, evaluate and research (UICT-TER). The aim, in this case, is the creation and validation of a measuring instrument on the use of ICT resources based on the UICT-TER model. After the preparation and application of the instrument to a sample of 867 Higher Education teachers in the Spanish territory, the reliability, content validity, comprehension and construct validity were analyzed. In the initial creation of the instrument, three dimensions corresponding to a total of 24 items were established, achieving a final version of 16 items. Regarding content validity, the experts (n = 4) positively assessed the construct, dimensions and items of the questionnaire. The reliability analysis through Cronbach's alpha were highly satisfactory and in relation to the Confirmatory Factor Analysis, the results found a good fit of the model. In addition, the instrument had external evidence of validity through different descriptive analyses with the variables gender, type of university (public-private), employment relationship (full-part-time), area of knowledge of the teaching staff (Science and Engineering-Architecture, Health Sciences, Art-Humanities and Social-Legal Sciences). Taking into account all the results obtained, the instrument created meets the psychometric properties required to be considered a valid and reliable instrument to measure the use of ICT resources according to the UICT-TER model in the Higher Education.

The purposes of this study were twofold: (1) determine the level of digital competence that Spanish teachers have in the use of technological devices, Web 2.0 general tools and Web 2.0 music tools, according to the proficiency profiles established by the European Framework DigCompEdu; and (2) identify the significant predictors which affect Spanish teachers who have a high level of competence. The study uses an ex-post facto design with 115 Spanish secondary school music teachers. The results showed that teachers had a profile between Novice and Expert regarding the use of educational technology. In addition, age, attitude towards ICT and motivation in teaching practice are predictive variables that help predict high competence in the use of Web 2.0 general resources and technological devices in the classroom, while having studied at a conservatory and working as a teacher in a conservatory significantly influence the use of Web 2.0 music tools.

Despite the existence of many programs and training projects in the field of ICT, in post-secondary education, the teaching and learning process continues to be supported by traditional classroom methods. This phenomenon can be particularly observed in education degrees, even though future teachers are expected to acquire the necessary digital skills in order to carry out their work properly. The purpose of this study is to explore in greater depth the use of 2.0 applications in the education training of future teachers, as well as to outline the different correlations between the use of these 2.0 tools and their perceived level of digital competence, age and their level of motivation. For it, a quasi-experimental, ex post facto research was carried out with a sample of 108 future teachers from the Faculty of Education, Pontifical University of Salamanca (UPSA). The results have shown that future teachers have a low level of attitude of use towards ICT in the classroom, with an average of 2.29 based on five points. Furthermore, the results have revealed that the level of digital competence and the motivation to use ICT are two variables that correlate positively, while other variables do not show any correlation, such as age.

Research skills are part of the academic activities of Higher Education teachers. Regardless of the knowledge area they teach, there is a need to observe, reflect, select, analyse and communicate scientific results using technological advances. The aim of this study is to analyse the use that teachers make of different ICT resources for research in terms of gender, comparing within each gender the different areas of knowledge to which the teachers belong (Science and Engineering-Architecture, Health Sciences, Art-Humanities and Social-Legal Sciences). To this end, an ex post facto design through surveys was used with a sample of 867 university teachers in the Spanish education system. For the comparative analysis, univariate ANOVA by multiple comparisons was used. The findings revealed that teachers have, in general terms and in both genres, an average level of use, highlighting more use in digital databases, academic Google, high-impact journal websites, and very little use in data analysis software, mainly in qualitative software. The results highlighted that the Engineering-Architecture area is the one that makes the greatest use of ICT for research in comparison with the Art-Humanities area which uses ICT resources the least. The results demonstrate the need to develop procedural and cognitive skills in teaching staff in the most needed areas, not only to encourage them to continue researching and sharing the results acquired, but also to attend and prepare students in research skills so that they can continue learning and increasing their academic and professional training once the university stage is over.

Information quality deficiencies have been detected in occupational safety and health surveys in Europe, which typically gather self-reported data responded by employers or their representatives. For instance, their low response rates and informant profiles make estimations on establishments with safety representatives (SRs) unreliable. We tested the mode of administration and informants as sources of error regarding establishments with SRs in Catalonia, Spain. Two sources of information were compared: the Second Catalan Survey of Working Conditions 2011 (IICSWC)--with a methodology similar to surveys conducted at the state and European level--and the Program on Prevention of Risks Management in Companies (PPRMC)--in which the labor authority collected data using a documentary verification in another sample of establishments. Percentage of establishments with SRs was estimated using the data from the PPRMC and also the differences in percentage between sources and informant profiles (with 95 percent confidence interval). Results show that the IICSWC overestimates the percentage of establishments with SRs.

Background: Most theoretical models of self-determination suggest that both environmental and personal factors influence the development of self-determination. The design and implementation of interventions must be conducted with foreknowledge of such mediating and moderating factors if the intervention is to be successful. Methods: The purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which several personal factors and school characteristics affect and explain students' self-determination. A total of 232 students with intellectual disability from Spain participated. Their self-determination level was assessed by the ARC-INICO Scale. Results: Students with moderate levels of intellectual disability obtained significantly lower scores on self-determination than their peers with mild intellectual disability. There were significant differences in relation to the level of support needs and their experience with transition programs. The level of support needs was a significant predictor. Conclusion: These findings contribute to current research in this field and practical implications were discussed.

In the area of foreign languages, it is necessary to develop the digital competence of future teachers in order to improve the teaching-learning process that they will carry out with their students. However, different intrinsic variables of teachers can influence their use of information and communication technologies (ICT). The main objective of this study is to analyse the use of ICT by future primary education teachers. The secondary objective is to find out whether age, gender and motivation affect their use of ICT. Non-experimental research has been carried out with a sample of 134 future teachers, specifically those teaching foreign languages. The results show that the future teachers of foreign languages have a pedagogical digital competence in the use of medium-low ICT, their most used technological devices being laptops and projectors. Moreover, they do not use Web 2.0 tools when teaching languages. Regarding gender, it can be seen that there are no significant differences, while the age variable does influence the level of pedagogical digital competence. In addition, it has been confirmed that motivation constitutes an essential variable at the pedagogical digital competence level, both in terms of the use of technological devices, as well as the use of Web 2.0 tools and of Learning Management Systems.

Tobacco use is of high prevalence among Spanish adolescents. Programming to counteract tobacco use has been needed. There is a lack of knowledge on the efficacy of teen tobacco use cessation programming. The current study provides an immediate outcome evaluation of the Project EX tobacco use prevention and cessation program among Spanish adolescents. An eight-session, classroom-based curriculum was translated from English to Spanish and adapted to the Spanish culture. Next, it was tested using a randomized controlled trial with 1,546 Spanish students, involving three program and three control high schools. Participants at the program group provided moderately favorable process ratings of the program. Compared to the standard care control condition, the program condition revealed a greater reduction in smoking intentions and CO ppm levels.

Copyright of RED - Revista de Educación a Distancia is the property of Universidad de Murcia 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.)

Copyright of Revista Electrónica Interuniversitaria De Formación del Profesorado is the property of Asociacion Universitaria de Formacion del Profesorado (AUFOP) 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.)

Background: Clustering of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) is extraordinarily common and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the particular impact of the sum of CVRFs on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has not been sufficiently explored in Europe. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the differences in survival-free probability of CVD in relation to the number of CVRFs in a Spanish population. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted from 1992 to 2016 in a Spanish population that included 1144 subjects with no history of CVD (mean age, 46.7 years) drawn from the general population. We calculated the number of CVRFs for each subject (male sex, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and left ventricular hypertrophy). Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality records were collected, and survival analysis was applied (competing risk models). Results: There were 196 cardiovascular events (17.1%). The differences in total survival-free probability of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality of the different values of the sum of CVRFs were significant, increasing the risk of CVD (hazard ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.13--1.50) per each additional risk factor. Conclusion: Differences in survival-free probability of CVD in relation to the number of CVRFs present were statistically significant. Further studies are needed to corroborate our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although studies exist comparing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), most have limitations in the mathematical models used to evaluate their prognostic power adjusted for the other risk factors (cardiovascular risk). Objective: The aim of this study was to compare LDL-C and non-HDL-C in patients with CVD to determine whether both parameters predict CVD similarly. Methods: A cohort of 1322 subjects drawn from the general population of a Spanish region was followed between 1992 and 2006. The outcome was time to CVD. Secondary variables were gender, age, hypertension, diabetes, personal history of CVD, current smoker, body mass index, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C. Two CVD prediction models were constructed with the secondary variables, with only the lipid parameter varying (non-HDL-C or LDL-C). In the construction of the models, the following were considered: multiple imputation, events per variable of 10 or more, and continuous predictors as powers. The validation was conducted by bootstrapping obtaining the distribution of the C statistic (discrimination) and the probabilities observed by smooth curves. These results were compared in both models using graphical and analytical testing. Results: There were a total of 137 CVD events. The models showed no differences in the distributions of the C statistic (discrimination, P = .536) or in the calibration plot. Conclusions: In our population, LDL-C and non-HDL-C were equivalent at predicting CVD. More studies using this methodology are needed to confirm these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beneficial effects of fish consumption in both children and adults are well known. However, the intake of methylmercury, mainly from contaminated fish and shellfish, can have adverse health effects. The study group on the prevention of exposure to methylmercury (GEPREM-Hg), made up of representatives from different Spanish scientific societies, has prepared a consensus document in a question and answer format, containing the group’s main conclusions, recommendations and proposals. The objective of the document is to provide broader knowledge of factors associated with methylmercury exposure, its possible effects on health amongst the Spanish population, methods of analysis, interpretation of the results and economic costs, and to then set recommendations for fish and shellfish consumption. The group sees the merit of all initiatives aimed at reducing or prohibiting the use of mercury as well as the need to be aware of the results of contaminant analyses performed on fish and shellfish marketed in Spain. In addition, the group believes that biomonitoring systems should be set up in order to follow the evolution of methylmercury exposure in children and adults and perform studies designed to learn more about the possible health effects of concentrations found in the Spanish population, taking into account the lifestyle, eating patterns and the Mediterranean diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Economía Aplicada is the property of Revista de Economia 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.)

Copyright of Araucaria is the property of Araucaria-Revista Iberoamericana de Filosofia, Politica y Humanidades 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.)

Copyright of Archivos de Bronconeumología (English Edition) is the property of Sociedad Espanola de Neumologia y Cirugia Toracica (SEPAR) 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.)

An introduction is presented in which the author comments on the articles in this issue, which focus on Spanish nobility and aristocracy during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Copyright of Araucaria is the property of Araucaria-Revista Iberoamericana de Filosofia, Politica y Humanidades 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.)

Southern Spain is currently under threat of desertification as a consequence of global climate change, which pressures on fragile ecosystems such as caves. The organisms living in these extremely stable environments are particularly sensitive and prone to extinction, therefore they can be used as bioindicators for climate change. Cyanobacterial mats form peculiar and vulnerable micro-ecosystems at the entrance of caves and house a diversity of protists. Amongst them, Arcellinida testate amoebae have been traditionally used as bioindicators for environmental quality, notably because their narrow ecological tolerance and their key ecological position as top predators of the microbial foodwebs. We report here two new species of Arcellinida found in the cyanobacterial mats of cave Hundidero, in Sierra de Grazalema, Malaga province, whose traits suggest a narrow tolerance for changes in humidity. We provide a formal description for Difflugia alhadiqa sp. nov. and Heleopera baetica sp. nov. based on morphometrics and 18S rRNA gene data, and propose using the presence of these species to indicate the good health of the cyanobacterial mats, like miner's canaries for local climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at the thesis ''Los mecanismos del honor y la nobleza en Castilla y Portugal, 1556-1621,'' by José António Guillén Berrendero, defended on November 13th, 2008 at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain. The thesis analyzes the structure and evolution of nobility in the kingdoms of Castilla and Portugal during the reign of Spanish monarchs Philip II and Philip III. The author discusses the agents and the mechanisms involving communication within the Spanish nobility during this time period.

Introduction: Patch test results may be influenced by age-related factors. However, there is still discordant evidence between age and patch test results., Objectives: We aim to evaluate the patch test results reflecting skin sensitisation, their relevance and association with clinical features by age group., Methods: Prospective multicentric study of all patients patch tested with the Spanish baseline series in participating centres. Age groups were pre-defined as children (0- to 11-years), adolescents (12- to 18-years), young adults (19- to 30-years), middle-aged adults (31- to 65-years) and older adults (≥66-years). Occurrence of sensitisation, relevance and clinical features were compared by age group. Factors associated with skin sensitisation were investigated with multivariate logistic regression., Results: A total of 13 368 patients were patch-tested. Differences in positive patch test results and relevance by age were detected with the highest proportion in middle-aged adults. Age-related trend differences were found for nickel, potassium dichromate, caines, colophony, Myroxylon pereirae resin, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and limonene hydroperoxide. The multivariate logistic analysis (adjusted for sex, atopic dermatitis, body location and occupational dermatitis) showed an association between the age group of 31-65 (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.26-1.58) and above 66-years (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.01-1.32) with a higher proportion of positive results, compared with young adults., Conclusions: Positive patch test results vary according to age, with the highest occurrence in middle-aged adults. Most haptens did not present age-related differences, reinforcing the use of baseline series regardless of age., (© 2024 The Author(s). Contact Dermatitis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The development of transcatheter valve repair therapies has opened a wide range of opportunities for treatment of patients with high surgical risk. Real-world data might improve patient selection and outcome. The authors sought to investigate acute and short-term cardiovascular outcomes of tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (T-TEER) with dedicated devices in a real-world setting., Methods and Results: This is a retrospective, single-arm, multicenter registry conducted at 15 sites in Spain. The primary end point was a composite of all-cause death, rehospitalization for heart failure, and tricuspid valve re-intervention. Patients included (n=283) were older (76±9 years, 70% female), and showed significant comorbidities. Massive or torrential TR was present in 55% of subjects, with secondary cause being the main mechanism of regurgitation in ≈80% of individuals. Intraprocedural success was achieved in 79% of patients. At 1-year follow-up, significant improvements in TR grade (≥3+, 100% to 25%, P <0.001) and New York Heart Association functional class (I/II, 33%-86%, P <0.001) were observed. Lead-induced cause and single leaflet device attachment emerged as independent predictors of at least severe predischarge residual TR. In-hospital mortality occurred in 4 (1.4%) patients, whereas the Kaplan-Meier estimated 1-year primary end point occurrence rate was 21%. Intraprocedural success (hazard ratio, 0.353 [95% CI, 0.156-0.798]; P =0.012), was found to be an independent predictor of primary end point., Conclusions: In a real-world contemporary setting, tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair with dedicated devices emerged as effective therapeutic option for patients with severe TR.

Background: There is still limited clinical-practice data on specific clinical and patch test features, as well as on allergen clusters in polysensitization (PS)., Objectives: To determine the frequency, relevance, symptoms duration and risk factors in polysensitized patients and to assess possible allergen aggregation., Methods: Prospective multicentric study (January 2019-December 2022) conducted in setting of the Spanish Contact Dermatitis Register (REIDAC). Clinical and patch test data of polysensitized and oligosensitized patients were compared, and risk factors of PS were investigated with logistic multivariate regression. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering and network analysis were used to study allergen aggregation in PS., Results: A total of 10,176 patients were analysed. PS was found in 844 (8.3%). Current relevance was significantly higher in polysensitized patients (p < 0.01). Risk factors for PS were atopic dermatitis (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.24-2.02), age (≥60 years vs. ≤24 years, OR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.25-2.44) and some special locations (legs vs. face OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.05-2.25, hands vs. face OR: 1.46, 95% CI:1.15-1.85, arms vs. face OR: 1.49, 95% CI:1.01-2.20, trunk vs. face OR: 1.40, 95% CI:1.06-1.85). Cluster and network analyses revealed specific-allergen clusters and significant associations, including allergens belonging to metals group, fragrances and botanicals group, topical drugs group, rubber allergens and biocides., Conclusions: This study confirms that PS is structured by discernible patterns of specific-allergen clusters and reinforces significant allergen associations in PS. Cross-reactivity and/or concomitant sensitization could explain the formation of allergen clusters in PS., (© 2024 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Background: Procedural success following tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) has been defined variably over time; however, the consequences of achieving a tricuspid regurgitation (TR) grade of 0/1+ are still unclear., Objectives: This study aimed to assess the predictors and prognostic impact of achieving TR 0/1+ after TEER and its role in clinical events., Methods: This multicenter registry included patients undergoing tricuspid TEER in 15 Spanish centers from June 2020 and May 2023. Patients were categorized into the following groups based on the TR grade after procedure: optimal (0/1+), acceptable (2+), and not acceptable (≥3+). The primary endpoint was the 1-year composite of all-cause death, heart failure hospitalization, and tricuspid reintervention. Secondary endpoints included each component of the primary endpoint assessed separately, NYHA functional class, and TR grade at follow-up., Results: Among 280 enrolled patients, 120 (42.9%) had residual TR 0/1+, 111 (39.6%) had residual TR 2+, and 49 (17.5%) had residual TR ≥3+. Patients with TR 0/1+ experienced lower rates of the primary endpoint (13% vs 20% vs 31%; log-rank P = 0.036). Residual TR ≥3+ was an independent predictor of primary endpoint (HR: 2.277; P = 0.044). Higher rates of NYHA functional class I or II and sustained TR reduction were seen in the TR 0/1+ group (P < 0.001 for both). A small coaptation gap and absence of septal leaflet tethering were independent predictors of achieving TR 0/1+., Conclusions: An optimal procedural result after TEER might be associated with improved outcomes. TR coaptation gap and leaflet restriction may aid in assessing suitability for TEER., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures Dr Echarte-Morales was supported by FIC-CSC through an educational grant. Dr Manuel Barreiro-Perez is proctor for Abbott Vascular, Edwards Lifesciences and Venus Medtech. Dr Rodrigo Estevez-Loureiro is a consultant and proctor for Abbott Vascular, Edwards Lifesciences, Boston Scientific and Venus Medtech. Dr Dabit Arzamendi is a consultant and proctor for Abbott Vascular and Edwards Lifesciences. Dr Xavier Freixa is a consultant and proctor for Abbott Vascular and Edwards Lifesciences. Dr Luis Nombela-Franco is a consultant and proctor for Abbott Vascular. Dr Ignacio Cruz-González is proctor for Abbott Vascular. Dr Fernando Carrasco-Chinchilla is proctor for Abbott Vascular. Dr Laura Sanchis is proctor for Abbott Vascular. Dr Ignacio J. Amat-Santos is consultant and proctor for P&F. Dr Ángel Sanchez-Recalde is proctor for P&F. Dr Chi Hion Li is proctor for Abbott Vascular and Edwards Lifesciences. Dr Isaac Pascual is proctor for Abbott Vascular. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

After the meeting held by the Spanish Contact Dermatitis and Skin Allergy Research Group (GEIDAC) back in October 2021, changes were suggested to the Spanish Standard Series patch testing. Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2% pet.), textile dye mixt (6.6% pet.), linalool hydroperoxide (1% pet.), and limonene hydroperoxide (0.3% pet.) were, then, added to the series that agreed upon in 2016. Ethyldiamine and phenoxyethanol were excluded. Methyldibromoglutaronitrile, the mixture of sesquiterpene lactones, and hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene (Lyral) were also added to the extended Spanish series of 2022., (Copyright © 2024 AEDV. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis whose clinical and topographic distribution requires differential diagnosis, or the possible association with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), requiring patch testing (PT) as part of the diagnostic procedure., Objectives: To describe the epidemiological, clinical, and allergic profile of patients with a primary or secondary diagnosis of psoriasis undergoing PT and compare them with patients with a diagnosis of ACD at the end of the diagnostic process., Methods: Cross-sectional study with data from REIDAC from 2018 through 2023 of selected patients with a diagnosis of psoriasis and/or ACD., Results: A total of 11 502 patients were included, 513 of whom had been diagnosed with primary or secondary psoriasis, 3640 with ACD, and 108 with both diseases. Men were more predominant in the groups of patients with psoriasis, psoriasis+ACD, and lesions were more predominantly seen in the hands with little association with atopic factors vs the ACD group. The rate of positivity in PT to the 2022 Spanish battery of allergens was lower in the group with psoriasis only in 27% of the patients. The most common allergens found in the psoriasis group were also the most common ones found in the overall ACD population., Conclusions: Overall, 36.2% of psoriatic patients tested positive in PT to the 2022 Spanish battery of allergens, which proved that this association is not uncommon. Overall, psoriatic patients had a higher mean age, were more predominantly men, and showed more hand involvement., (Copyright © 2024 AEDV. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Current frequency and features for positivity to textile dye mix (TDM) in Spain are unknown., Objectives: To study the frequency, clinical features and simultaneous positivity between TDM, para-phenylenediamine (PPD) and specific disperse dyes., Materials and Methods: We analysed all consecutive patients patch-tested with TDM from the Spanish Contact Dermatitis Registry (REIDAC), from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2022. Within this group, we studied all selected patients patch-tested with a textile dye series., Results: Out of 6128 patients analysed, 3.3% were positive to the TDM and in 34% of them, the sensitization was considered currently relevant. TDM positivity was associated with working as a hairdresser/beautician and scalp, neck/trunk and arm/forearm dermatitis. From TDM-positive patients, 57% were positive to PPD. One hundred and sixty-four patients were patch-tested with the textile dye series. Disperse Orange 3 was the most frequent positive dye (16%). One of every six cases positive to any dye from the textile dye series would have been missed if patch-tested with the TDM alone., Conclusions: Positivity to TDM is common in Spain and often associated with PPD sensitization. TDM is a valuable marker of disperse dyes allergy that should be part of the Spanish and European standard series., (© 2024 The Authors. Contact Dermatitis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction and Objectives: The optimal timing of coronary angiography in patients admitted with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) as well as the need for pretreatment are controversial. The main objective of the IMPACT-TIMING-GO registry was to assess the proportion of patients undergoing an early invasive strategy (0-24hours) without dual antiplatelet therapy (no pretreatment strategy) in Spain., Methods: This observational, prospective, and multicenter study included consecutive patients with NSTEACS who underwent coronary angiography that identified a culprit lesion., Results: Between April and May 2022, we included 1021 patients diagnosed with NSTEACS, with a mean age of 67±12 years (23.6% women). A total of 87% of the patients were deemed at high risk (elevated troponin; electrocardiogram changes; GRACE score>140) but only 37.8% underwent an early invasive strategy, and 30.3% did not receive pretreatment. Overall, 13.6% of the patients underwent an early invasive strategy without pretreatment, while the most frequent strategy was a deferred angiography under antiplatelet pretreatment (46%). During admission, 9 patients (0.9%) died, while major bleeding occurred in 34 (3.3%)., Conclusions: In Spain, only 13.6% of patients with NSTEACS undergoing coronary angiography received an early invasive strategy without pretreatment. The incidence of cardiovascular and severe bleeding events during admission was low., (Copyright © 2023 Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Drug addiction is not a contraindication to indicate treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC), but it has been observed that consumers are more abandon. To study the clinical outcome of hepatitis C treatment in inmate patients with a history in injecting drugs and to analyze which were the causes of abandon., Methods: A multicenter retrospective clinical trial including 162 inmate patients that underwent HCV therapy with pegylated interpheron and ribavirin between January 2003 and January 2008 was performed. It was found in medical history who completed treatment. We used a questionnaire to determine variables associated with discontinuation of treatment and multivariate analysis was performed using logistic regression to identify predictors., Results: 82.7% were intravenous drug users, 21.7% had HIV coinfection and 20.5% were on methadone maintenance therapy. 91.4% completed the whole treatment; 33.1% admitted heroin and/or cocaine consumption during therapy and 7.9% admitted needle and syringe-sharing. Relapse in intravenous consumption in or out of prison was the only one predictive factor of treatment interruption (OR: 10.39, IC: 1.93-55.88; p = 0.006)., Conclusion: Only 9,6% of patients discontinued treatment. Drug use was the main cause of discontinuation of treatment. We recommend the treatment of drug addiction to reduce the discontinuations of treatment for chronic hepatitis C.

We carried out a retrospective study of the susceptibility of 104 Streptococcus pyogenes strains, which were isolated in 2000 and 2001 from clinical samples of different origins, to penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, ofloxacin and levofloxacin. The susceptibility testing was performed using the agar difusion method according to the guidelines of the NCCLS. All of the isolates showed susceptibility to penicillin and clindamycin. However, we detected 11 strains that were resistant to erythromycin (10.6%) and 4 strains resistant to ofloxacin (3.8%). We studied the resistance phenotypes of macrolides and lincosamides using erythromycin and clindamycin discs. Nine of the eleven strains that were resistant to erythromycin showed an M phenotype, while the remaining two showed inducible resistance to clindamycin, thus suggesting an MLS(B) inducible phenotype. No strains with constitutive resistance to erythromycin or clindamycin (MLS(B) constitutive phenotype) were identified. While penicillin is still uniformly active against S. pyogenes, in Guadalajara, there are 10.6% strains that are resistant to 14- and 15-atoms macrolides.

Objective to review the experience of the lung transplantation unit at Hospital La Fe (Valencia). Between February 1990 and March 1996 we performed 40 lung transplants. The following causes were most common: cystic fibrosis (9 cases), emphysema (8), pulmonary fibrosis (8) and bronchiectasis (7). Types of intervention were 27 double lung transplants (25 sequential and 9 blocked), 9 single lung transplants, and 4 heart-lung transplants. We then reviewed the 36 single and double lung transplants. The main exclusion criteria were age over 65 years, malignant disease, kidney or liver disease, severe or non reversible central nervous system disease, and drug addiction. Prior surgery, mechanical ventilation and the presence of Aspergillus were considered lower-order contraindications. Mean patient age was 37.7 years (14-59). Six patients were colonized by Aspergillus before transplantation. Five had undergone earlier surgery and two were mechanically ventilated before the transplant. The most common complication was respiratory infection, which was present in 6 of the 7 patients who died. Other complications in order of frequency were dehiscence and/or bronchial stenosis, corticoid myopathy and postoperative bleeding. The actuarial survival rate of single and double lung transplants was 67.85 after 3 years, and 87.5% in patients with cystic fibrosis. Lung transplantation is a well-established procedure that is gradually being extended to treat more conditions. The main obstacle is the scarcity of donors. The main challenge at present is bronchiolitis obliterans.

In a series of 1,011 women seen in the Diagnosis Center of Sexually Transmitted Diseases of the Faculty of Medicine of Seville, we study the prevalence of cervical infections caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and/or Chlamydia trachomatis and also mucopurulent cervicitis (CMP), these last diagnosed by the presence of more than 10 polymorphonuclear leukocytes x 1,000 magnification in Gram stain of secretion or endocervical mucopus. We calculate the predictive value that the diagnosis of the CMP had in detecting cervical infection by chlamydia and gonococcus. N. gonorrhoeae was isolated in 56 patients (5.5%), C. trachomatis in 83 (8.2%) and both in 15 (1.5%). In all, 154 women presented cervical infections, which correlates to a prevalence of 15.2%. CMP was diagnosed in 267 patients and, of these, 43.4% had cervical infection accused by N. gonorrhoeae and/or C. trachomatis. The diagnosis criteria of CMP used as predictors of cervical infection, had a sensibility of 0.75 and a specificity of 0.82, with a positive predictive value of 0.42.

Actinomycetes belonging to the genus Nocardia were isolated from the surface horizon of 15 out of 46 soil samples examined. All the nocardiae strains isolated contained mycolic acids and saturated and unsaturated straight chain fatty acids (from 12 to 18 carbon atoms) and tuberculostearic acid and were biochemically identified as members of the Nocardia asteroides complex. Nocardiae were detected in alluvial, brown, and serosem great soil groups, but not in calcic brown, solontchack, and regosol great soil groups. Numbers of nocardiae isolated varied from 5.12 X 10(2) to 1.21 X 10(4) colony-forming units per gram of dry weight, and they were statistically correlated with the carbon content (percent C) of the soil. Soil samples were, in general, very dry.