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Promoting industrial engineering student participation in ESP breakout rooms
(2026) Gutierrez Corrales, Ana Lucia; Ramirez Solano, Maria Ximena; Vindas Carmona, Cinthia Jazmin; Zuniga Coudin, Randolph
Este estudio explora estrategias y características de los materiales didácticos que podrían favorecer la participación de estudiantes de ingeniería industrial en salas de trabajo grupal en Zoom (BORs) en un curso de inglés con fines específicos (ESP) impartido en línea durante el II semestre de 2024 en la Universidad de Costa Rica. El diseño metodológico incluyó observaciones de catorce lecciones, una encuesta y entrevistas semiestructuradas. Los hallazgos sugieren que las prácticas que fomentan la familiaridad, la colaboración y el acompañamiento parecen influir positivamente en la participación en BORs. En particular, la conformación de grupos pequeños y estables, junto con visitas docentes breves pero regulares, pareció favorecer la interacción estudiantil. Del mismo modo, el uso de materiales auténticos vinculados con su área profesional, coeditables y con instrucciones claras parece haber contribuido a un mayor involucramiento en las tareas grupales. Por otro lado, el modelo de clase invertida fue percibido como menos eficaz cuando el estudiantado no había trabajado los insumos previos o enfrentaba una alta carga de preparación, lo que se asoció con menor interacción. En conjunto, la combinación de grupos consistentes, presencia docente focalizada e instrucciones claras, apoyada por materiales auténticos y coeditables, podría ofrecer un andamiaje práctico para favorecer la colaboración en BORs de cursos ESP y brindar pautas potencialmente útiles para planificar tareas colaborativas sin sobrecargar el tiempo sincrónico.
This study explores strategies and features of instructional materials that may foster the participation of industrial engineering students in Zoom breakout rooms (BORs) during an online English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course offered in the second semester of 2024 at the University of Costa Rica. The methodological design included observations of fourteen lessons, a survey, and semi-structured interviews. Findings suggest that practices promoting familiarity, collaboration, and instructor support seem to positively influence student participation in BORs. In particular, the creation of small and stable groups, together with brief but regular instructor visits, appeared to encourage student interaction. Likewise, the use of authentic, professionally relevant, co-editable materials with clear instructions seems to have contributed to greater engagement in group tasks. On the other hand, the flipped classroom model was perceived as less effective when students had not engaged with the necessary materials or faced a heavy workload, which was associated with reduced interaction. Overall, combining consistent small groups, focused instructor presence, and clear instructions supported by authentic and co-editable materials may provide a practical scaffold to support collaboration in ESP BORs and offer potentially useful guidelines for designing collaborative tasks without overloading synchronous time.
Cancer immunotherapy-associated hypophysitis
(2019-08-19) Castillero Rodríguez, Franklin Agustín; Castillo Fernández, Omar; Jiménez Jiménez, Geiner; Fallas Ramírez, José Manuel; Peralta Álvarez, Marco Polo; Arrieta Rodríguez, Óscar Gerardo
The advances in cancer therapy have included the development of drugs that inhibit immune checkpoint ligands. Two types of immune checkpoint inhibitors, both antibodies that target CTLA-4 and PD-1, have been approved for its use in NSCLC and melanoma as first-line or second-line therapy. Sadly, not desirable consequences of immunotherapy are immune-related adverse events. immune-related hypophysitis is the most common endocrine adverse event after thyroid disfunction. The particularity of endocrine immunerelated adverse events is their non-reversibility, with incidence and prevalence destined to increase in the coming years, particularly if this form of therapy is used in the future for earlier stages of cancer. Therefore, hypophysitis represents a challenge for the physician, sometimes occurring without specific symptomatology and which should be considered for clinical management. In this review, we describe the current data regarding the pathophysiology and management for immune-related hypophysitis.
"Amigos a la distancia": una iniciativa de trabajo comunal universitario para el acompañamiento de las personas adultas mayores en tiempo de la pandemia ocasionada por el COVID-19
(2022-12-01) Brokke Morales, Melissa; Mora Román, Juan José; Weng Huang, Nien-Tzu; Fallas Ramírez, José Manuel; Porras Navarro, Marta; Arévalo Aguilón, Mercedes
El 11 de marzo de 2020, la Organización Mundial de la Salud declaró una pandemia causada por el COVID-19, generando cambios radicales en el estilo de vida de la población. Todas las personas tuvieron que modificar su forma de vivir y adaptarse a una nueva realidad. Este contexto promovió el desarrollo de iniciativas como la denominada "Amigos a la distancia", dentro del proyecto de trabajo comunal TC-678 Promoción del envejecimiento saludable y de la solidaridad intergeneracional en las comunidades de Cartago de la Universidad de Costa Rica. Por lo anterior, el propósito es sistematizar la experiencia de las personas adultas mayores y del estudiantado con esta actividad. La intervención consistió en la realización de llamadas telefónicas a personas adultas mayores con mayor vulnerabilidad, que asistían al Centro Diurno de Quebradilla, para brindarles el correspondiente acompañamiento. La información recopilada durante las mismas fue registrada y sistematizada mediante un análisis de contenido. Asimismo, se llevó a cabo una evaluación, tanto a la población beneficiaria como al estudiantado con participación activa. Los resultados principales incluyeron el establecimiento de siete categorías: información personal de las personas adultas mayores, situación de salud actual de las personas participantes, actividades cotidianas, limitaciones experimentadas como consecuencia de las restricciones sanitarias impuestas por la pandemia, problemas originados por la pandemia del COVID-19, aspectos positivos percibidos durante la pandemia, y otros aspectos de importancia. Con ello, fue posible notar con mayor claridad las vivencias de esta población durante el inicio de la pandemia, y la influencia en su estado físico y emocional. Como complemento, las personas beneficiarias refirieron haber tenido una muy buena percepción de la misma, al igual que el estudiantado participante. Ante la evaluación recibida, iniciativas de esta naturaleza deben mantenerse en el corto y mediano plazo, inclusive si se vuelve a las actividades presenciales.
P-179: Identifying successful cognitive aging endophenotypes in the Central Valley of Costa Rica
(2007-07-01) Silverman, Jeremy M.; Schnaider Beeri, Michal; Edland, Steven; Raventós Vorst, Henriette; Valerio Aguilar, Daniel; Pereira Castro, Mariana; Grossman, Hillel; Hannigan, Christine
Background: Successful cognitive aging (SCA) is a genetically complex desirable trait. Gene identification will thus be facilitated through the delineation of cognitive endophenotypes, i.e., intermediate traits that are more direct expressions of single specific genes or a small number of genes. Strong delayed recall and psychomotor speed are both promising candidates for such endophenotypes. We looked at these functions in the offspring of very elderly (90+) nondemented (VEND) probands and two comparison groups from the Central Valley of Costa Rica (CVCR), a population with increased genetic homogeneity. Objective(s): To identify cognitive endophenotypes for SCA.
Methods
Delayed recall and psychomotor speed were assessed in 52 VEND probands from the CVCR and 76 of their aged 60+ year old offspring. Two CVCR comparison family groups were also assessed: 1) 24 very elderly demented (VED) probands and 43 of their 60+ year old offspring; 2) 31 young nondemented elderly (YND) probands and 67 of their 60+ year old siblings. Results: Using a random effects model controlling for age, sex, and education delayed recall was significantly better among VEND offspring than VED offspring (P<.05) and nominally better than YND siblings. Psychomotor speed was significantly better among VEND offspring then YND siblings (P<.05) and nominally better than VED offspring. Conclusions: These data offer preliminary evidence that delayed recall and psychomotor speed functions are useful endophenotypes for SCA.
Exploring the FAO Minimum Dietary Diversity Indicator as a Suitable Proxy of Micronutrient Adequacy in Men and Women Across Reproductive and Non-reproductive Ages in 8 Latin American Countries
(2024-05-28) Gómez Salas, Georgina; Monge Rojas, Rafael; Vargas Quesada, Rulamán; Nogueira Previdelli, Agatha; Quesada Quesada, Dayana María; Kovalskys, Irina; Herrera Cuenca, Marianella; Cortes, Lilia Yadira; Yepez García, Martha Cecilia; Liria Domínguez, Reyna; Rigotti, Attilio; Mara Fisberg, Regina; Ferrari, Gerson Luis de Morais; Fisberg, Mauro; Brenes Sáenz, Juan Carlos
Background:
Women’s Dietary Diversity Score (WDDS) is an indicator of dietary diversity, a key component of diet quality in women of reproductive age (WRA). Limited information is available regarding its applicability in other population groups.
Objective:
To examine the ability of the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) of 5-food groups cutoff to predict micronutrient adequacy in men and women 15 to 65 years old from 8 Latin American countries.
Methods:
We used a 24-hour recall from 9216 participants in the Latin American Study on Nutrition and Health (ELANS) to determine Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) based on the consumption of 10 food groups. The Mean Probability of Adequacy (MPA) was associated with DDS for the overall sample, for men, WRA, and women of nonreproductive age (WNRA). Sensitivity and specificity analyses were performed to determine if the 5-food groups cutoff point for MDD can be used to correctly identify men, WRA, and WNRA with adequate micronutrient adequacy (MPA ≥ 0.70).
Results:
We found a mean DDS of 4.78 ± 1.33 and an MPA of 0.64 ± 0.16, with 59% of participants showing a diverse diet (DDS ≥ 5). The 5-food groups-cutoff point showed a better balance between sensitivity and specificity predicting an MPA ≥0.70 in men, WRA, and WNRA. MPA was significantly associated with DDS in WRA and for men and WNRA, as well.
Conclusion:
The 5-food group MDD, originally intended to be used in WRA, performed equally well in predicting MPA ≥0.70 in men, WRA, and WNRA, and can be used as a proxy of micronutrient adequacy in Latin American population.