University Of Cordoba Research Articles

A personal account of the history of X-ray crystallography at the University of La Plata, Argentina.

Prompted by visionary political leaders and a flowering economy, the University of La Plata was founded in 1905, the third Argentinian university after the Universities of Cordoba (1613) and Buenos Aires (1821). Differing from the older universities, more prone to professional formation, the new university was oriented towards teaching and scientific research following western European academic tradition. Along with the university was created the Institute of Physics, the first of its kind in Latin America. To pursue the foundational plan, the university recruited distinguished German physicists, some of whom became the first directors. From the start, the institute became acquainted with Röntgen rays, their generation and use, initially for radiographic images and later in occasional diffraction studies. The first dedicated crystallographic X-ray diffraction laboratory was set up in the early 1970s, when it solved the first molecular structures. Soon the fascination brought about by a methodology that afforded the visualization of atoms, molecules and crystals lured the local and national physical chemistry communities. In close partnership with an equally oriented laboratory at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and in collaboration with several physical chemistry laboratories from Argentina and the Latin American region, and also from Europe, we undertook studies on the crystal structures and physicochemical and spectroscopic properties of a wide range of materials, including inorganic, organic, bioinorganic, metal-organic, organic-metal, supramolecular, pharmaceutical, organic minerals and liquid crystals. The present essay is a personal account of the origin and development of structural X-ray crystallography at the University of La Plata and its impact on the scientific research of Argentina and Latin America.

Trayectorias educativas en una universidad jesuita

In this paper, we propose to share the way in which the academic trajectories of young people pursuing a career at the Catholic University of Cordoba are accompanied. These students, from the beginning of this stage, face the challenge of acquiring the necessary skills to succeed in their career, and, for this, it is necessary the construction of the university student's job.In it, we mention the difference between the practices of high-school students and the demands of university learning. We point out the characteristics of today's young people, and, taking into account their singularities, we describe strategies of orientation and psychopedagogical accompaniment, implemented at the university to support students in their trajectories. Finally, we situate our proposal from the humanistic approach to education in a Jesuit university, which seeks the integral growth of the person and his or her commitment to society.

Ancient history education through project-based learning

Abstract The effectiveness of teaching strategies and resources that promote meaningful content learning is most pronounced when active methods such as project-based learning (PBL) are used to teach Ancient History (Molina, 2020, 53). Therefore, this study focuses on a comprehensive assessment of the methodological and historical competences acquired by students enrolled in the secondary education teacher training programme at the University of Cordoba (Spain). The research, which is non-experimental and quantitative, uses a Likert-type scale and involves the participation of 201 Masters students who have completed the course ‘Learning and Teaching Social Sciences’. The results of the statistical analysis show a positive evaluation of PBL in terms of historical understanding and its effectiveness in improving historical awareness. It is crucial to emphasise the advantages of active and collaborative learning inherent in PBL. However, it is also imperative to acknowledge the challenges that students face in applying their methodological knowledge to the secondary school setting. The transition from theoretical understanding to practical implementation is a significant hurdle for many students aspiring to a career in education. These findings underline the importance of promoting the seamless integration of innovative pedagogical approaches into teacher training programmes in order to effectively address the specific challenges of teaching antiquity in an educational context. Finally, this research was made possible by the Ministry of Science and Innovation's ‘Prueba de Concepto’ project, funded by the European Union under grant number PDC2022-133123-I00, and also by the CLIOGEN project (GINDO-UB/187) on Ancient History.

De periodismo a comunicación. La etapa inicial de la formación en comunicación en Argentina desde un estudio de caso (Córdoba)

En la década de los sesenta en Argentina se produjo un aumento de la oferta de carreras de grado en Periodismo. Un caso singular en ese momento fue la Escuela de Ciencias de la Información de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, ya que se proyectó sin pasar por una etapa de formación en Periodismo. El presente artículo es un avance preliminar de una investigación que tiene por objetivo estudiar los inicios de la investigación en comunicación en Argentina, centrándose en el caso cordobés. Se concluye que la formación y la producción de saberes están vinculados a las condiciones político-sociales contextuales.

Grey-Box Modeling and Decoupling Control of a Lab Setup of the Quadruple-Tank System

The quadruple-tank system (QTS) is a popular educational resource in universities for studying multivariable control systems. It enables the analysis of the interaction between variables and the limitations imposed by multivariable non-minimum phase zeros, as well as the evaluation of new multivariable control methodologies. The works utilizing this system present a theoretical model that may be too idealistic and based on erroneous assumptions in real-world implementations, such as the linear behavior of the actuators. In other cases, an identified linear model is directly provided. This study outlines the practical grey-box modeling procedure conducted for the QTS at the University of Cordoba and provides guidance for its implementation. A configurable nonlinear model was developed and controlled in a closed loop using different controllers. Specifically, decentralized control, static decoupling control, and simplified decoupling control were compared. The simulation designs were experimentally validated with high accuracy, demonstrating that the conclusions reached with the developed model can be extrapolated to the real system. The comparison of these three control designs illustrates the advantages and disadvantages of decoupling in certain situations, especially in the presence of non-minimum phase zeros.

Real-Time Assessment of Rodent Engagement Using ArUco Markers: A Scalable and Accessible Approach for Scoring Behavior in a Nose-Poking Go/No-Go Task.

In the field of behavioral neuroscience, the classification and scoring of animal behavior play pivotal roles in the quantification and interpretation of complex behaviors displayed by animals. Traditional methods have relied on video examination by investigators, which is labor-intensive and susceptible to bias. To address these challenges, research efforts have focused on computational methods and image-processing algorithms for automated behavioral classification. Two primary approaches have emerged: marker- and markerless-based tracking systems. In this study, we showcase the utility of "Augmented Reality University of Cordoba" (ArUco) markers as a marker-based tracking approach for assessing rat engagement during a nose-poking go/no-go behavioral task. In addition, we introduce a two-state engagement model based on ArUco marker tracking data that can be analyzed with a rectangular kernel convolution to identify critical transition points between states of engagement and distraction. In this study, we hypothesized that ArUco markers could be utilized to accurately estimate animal engagement in a nose-poking go/no-go behavioral task, enabling the computation of optimal task durations for behavioral testing. Here, we present the performance of our ArUco tracking program, demonstrating a classification accuracy of 98% that was validated against the manual curation of video data. Furthermore, our convolution analysis revealed that, on average, our animals became disengaged with the behavioral task at ∼75 min, providing a quantitative basis for limiting experimental session durations. Overall, our approach offers a scalable, efficient, and accessible solution for automated scoring of rodent engagement during behavioral data collection.

Contribution of cultural heritage resources to the 2030 agenda SDGS

PurposeThe 2030 Agenda and the sustainable development goals (SDGs) constitute a new global roadmap for all institutions and sectors of society. Therefore, thanks to the initiative of Club of Córdoba for the Unesco (CUCO), a nonprofit association, in collaboration with the University of Cordoba, the need to create a tool for heritage management has been identified to guide personnel responsible for cultural heritage resources in the implementation of SDGs. The goal of this universal guide is to raise awareness of the importance of cultural heritage resources being aligned with the 2030 Agenda and provide the keys to apply the SDGs in the day-to-day activities of the different institutions. This publication is part of the proyect of the Junta de Andalucía “The Guide to Action on a Heritage Resource on the SDGs” (GARPODS).Design/methodology/approachSDG Compass is a powerful tool for the application of the SDGs in the business field and therefore has been considered appropriate to create a guide for cultural heritage resources based on it. To this end, we have held meetings with experts in the heritage field (directors and managers of different heritage resources in the province of Córdoba) both individually and collectively. Surveys have also been carried out on different interest groups (managers, employees, suppliers, visitors) which in turn have made it possible to provide an interdisciplinary nature to the sample and the results.FindingsWith the completion of this work, it has been proven that cultural heritage resource managers lack the necessary knowledge and resources to implement the SDGs in their management. Therefore, the proposed guide will be a practical tool that will allow all heritage resources to incorporate the SDGs into their management.Originality/valueThe tool proposed in this work, although it based on the SDG Compass methodology, aims to go beyond the business sphere and adapt to heritage resources so that they can apply the SDGs in their management. This work is ongoing and the full guide will be presented in February 2024.

Analysis of the perception of harassment episodes or bullying to nursing students in their clinical practice

Objectives: Visualize the perception of the level of harassment and intimidation that exists towards nursing students by health professionals, non-health professionals and users in their clinical practices. These students come from the Universities of Malaga, Cordoba, Sevilla, Granada, Ceuta and Melilla. In addition, analyze the possible consequences produced by the perception of harassment and intimidation of these students and propose methods that universities can use to address this problem. Background: Violence in the workplace consists of violent acts against workers that can occur in verbal, physical or psychological violence. This act is very frequent in the nursing profession due to the levels of stress that are experienced, to which is added long and tiring shifts, dealing with critically ill patients and relatives with uncertainty that can cause difficult and violent situations. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with the survey model used by Tee in 2016 in a study carried out in the United Kingdom. The number of respondents was 64. Conclusions: The results indicate a perception of the episodes of intimidation and/or harassment in the clinical practices of the students may affect their thoughts as a future profession and can even lead to career abandonment before finishing it. Universities and health centres should work to solve this problem.

A Real-Time Approach for Assessing Rodent Engagement in a Nose-Poking Go/No-Go Behavioral Task Using ArUco Markers.

Behavioral neuroscience requires precise and unbiased methods for animal behavior assessment to elucidate complex brain-behavior interactions. Traditional manual scoring methods are often labor-intensive and can be prone to error, necessitating advances in automated techniques. Recent innovations in computer vision have led to both marker- and markerless-based tracking systems. In this protocol, we outline the procedures required for utilizing Augmented Reality University of Cordoba (ArUco) markers, a marker-based tracking approach, to automate the assessment and scoring of rodent engagement during an established intracortical microstimulation-based nose-poking go/no-go task. In short, this protocol involves detailed instructions for building a suitable behavioral chamber, installing and configuring all required software packages, constructing and attaching an ArUco marker pattern to a rat, running the behavioral software to track marker positions, and analyzing the engagement data for determining optimal task durations. These methods provide a robust framework for real-time behavioral analysis without the need for extensive training data or high-end computational resources. The main advantages of this protocol include its computational efficiency, ease of implementation, and adaptability to various experimental setups, making it an accessible tool for laboratories with diverse resources. Overall, this approach streamlines the process of behavioral scoring, enhancing both the scalability and reproducibility of behavioral neuroscience research. All resources, including software, 3D models, and example data, are freely available at https://github.com/tomcatsmith19/ArucoDetection. Key features • The ArUco marker mounting hardware is lightweight, compact, and detachable for minimizing interference with natural animal behavior. • Requires minimal computational resources and commercially available equipment, ensuring ease of use for diverse laboratory settings. • Instructions for extracting necessary code are included to enhance accessibility within custom environments. • Developed for real-time assessment and scoring of rodent engagement across a diverse array of pre-loaded behavioral tasks; instructions for adding custom tasks are included. • Engagement analysis allows for the quantification of optimal task durations for consistent behavioral data collection without confirmation biases.

ETwinning and the development of language teachers’ digital literacy: a comparative study between two European universities

Collaborative online international learning (COIL) has grown as an innovative technology-enhanced education approach with great potential for language education. Among the different COIL initiatives, eTwinning offers opportunities for language teachers and learners. Considering the limited research about pre-service language teachers’ digital literacy who have participated in the eTwinning for future teachers initiative, this paper’s objective is to explore how eTwinning can enhance teachers’ digital skills involving pre-service language teachers (N=76) from two European universities, University of Cordoba, UCO (Spain) and University of Lower Silesia, ULS (Poland). The study follows a quantitative approach, using an exploratory cross-sectional method and an interpretative approach. The results show a general positive perception of participants from both contexts, while there are statistically significant differences regarding gender and university. Finally, the paper reflects on how to use eTwinning to improve teachers’ digital literacy.

Adoption of electric vehicles by young adults in an emerging market: a case study from Argentina

ABSTRACT The destiny of the electric vehicle (EV) marketplace will depend upon the behaviour of potential buyers and on how emerging markets allow EVs to be perceived as a mobility solution to the externalities generated by internal combustion (IC) vehicles. To this end it is important to ascertain the role played by psychological factors, along with instrumental attributes, especially among younger adults (future purchasers) in not yet mature markets. Our paper analyses and models the propensity to purchase an EV with respect to an equivalent IC vehicle. It contributes to the existing literature investigating younger adults’ behaviour in an emerging market, focusing on the role of attitudes and perceptions. A stated preferences survey, built on real commercial scenarios (Renault ZOE vs Renault Clio), was designed and disseminated at the University of Cordoba (Argentina). Respondent behaviour was modelled within the random utility paradigm. First, heterogeneity among users was investigated through mixed multinomial logit formulation; The role of psycho-attitudinal factors was then explored through the specification of hybrid choice models with latent variables. Estimation results indicate the significant role of attitudes and perceptions in emerging markets.

Intellectual Triumph in The Islamic Scientific Exploration of Andalusia

This article delves into the period of Islamic magnificence in Andalusia, spanning from 913 to 961 CE, under the rule of Khalifah Abdurrahman An-Nashir. It sheds light on the epoch's remarkable strides in scientific exploration, notably through the prominence of influential scholars and scientists like Ibn Rushd and Ibn Athiyyah, whose enduring contributions continue to resonate within the Islamic world. Methodologically, this research adopts a historical approach, meticulously examining pertinent books and journals to unearth the narrative of this transformative era. This study showed that central to this era's intellectual ascendance was the establishment of comprehensive educational institutions, ranging from foundational to advanced levels. A striking exemplar is the University of Cordoba, a revered seat of learning that exemplifies an integrated educational approach. Additionally, the era's scientific vitality found material expression in the creation of opulent libraries, housing collections exceeding a million scholarly volumes. The outcome of this exploration underscores the palpable intellectual dynamism that characterized the Islamic golden age in Andalusia under Khalifah Abdurrahman An-Nashir's leadership.

Training, personal and environmental barriers of online education

The sudden change that universities experienced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic raised some key issues in higher education. The objectives of the present study are to discover the barriers that students experienced regarding training in the use of synchronous online teaching tools, and to analyse the barriers they faced in terms of personal and environmental aspects. A quantitative methodology was used, with an ad hoc questionnaire consisting of Likert-type questions that was completed by 670 students of Education at the University of Cordoba and the University of Lleida. The results showed that most students did not receive any training in teaching synchronous online classes. Also, the students who did not have their own devices (i.e. a computer, mobile or tablet) or had to share one with other members of their family had the most difficulties in following online courses. The efforts made by students during the crisis is notable, and teachers are encouraged to think about possible strategies for dealing with similar situations in the future.

Títulos al 2x1: el proceso de una doble titulación

The aim of this article is to present in a general way the process of elaboration of a double degree agreement. This modality allows you to have two titles or academic degrees in different universities, through a single study plan. his modality offers multiple benefits for students since being in contact with two universities presents mobility processes, contacts with other university students and expands the field for international projects. Some conditions are presented that allow the double degree between both universities. Once the Higher Education Institution with which to work has been selected, a curricular review is carried out and the agreement is presented. Important steps and challenges are presented during the development of the agreement, as well as the areas in charge of coordinating it and monitoring the participating students. As an example, the double degree agreement between the University of Cordoba in Spain and the Faculty of Medicine of the UNAM for the degree of Surgeon is presented. Keywords: Double degree; international cooperation; curricular internationalization; academic flexibility; educational agreements.

Diagnosis of the internationalization of teaching Tax Law: Difficulties and suggestions when doing it in english

In this paper, a diagnosis of the current degree of the internationalization of teaching Tax Law at the University of Cordoba is conducted and the viability to impart these contents in English is also analysed. Two are the main aims of this paper. The first one is to present the difficulties we detect when teaching these courses in English and the possibilities offered for this purpose by the different compulsory subjects from the various Degrees existing at the Faculty of Law and Economics and Business Studies of the University of Cordoba. Moreover, there is a second aim: to offer new internationalization opportunities through the feasible introduction of optional subjects in the aforementioned Degrees.

Trust–Region Nonlinear Optimization Algorithm for Orientation Estimator and Visual Measurement of Inertial–Magnetic Sensor

This paper proposes a novel robust orientation estimator to enhance the accuracy and robustness of orientation estimation for inertial–magnetic sensors of the small consumer–grade drones. The proposed estimator utilizes a trust–region strategy within a nonlinear optimization framework, transforming the orientation fusion problem into a nonlinear optimization problem based on the maximum likelihood principle. The proposed estimator employs a trust–region Dogleg gradient descent strategy to optimize orientation precision and incorporates a Huber robust kernel to minimize interference caused by acceleration during the maneuvering process of the drone. In addition, a novel method for evaluating the performance of orientation estimators is also presented based on visuals. The proposed method consists of two parts: offline calibration of the basic cube using Augmented Reality University of Cordoba (ArUco) markers and online orientation measurement of the sensor carrier using a nonlinear optimization solver. The proposed measurement method’s accuracy and the proposed estimator’s performance are evaluated under low–dynamic (rotation) and high–dynamic (shake) conditions in the experiment. The experimental findings indicate that the proposed measurement method obtains an average re–projection error of less than 0.1 pixels. The proposed estimator has the lowest average orientation error compared to conventional orientation estimation algorithms. Despite the time–consuming nature of the proposed estimator, it exhibits greater robustness and precision, particularly in highly dynamic environments.

Efficiency of breeding olives for resistance to Verticillium wilt.

Olive trees are the most cultivated evergreen trees in the Mediterranean Basin, where they have deep historical and socioeconomic roots. The fungus Verticillium dahliae develops inside the vascular bundles of the host, and there are no effective applicable treatments, making it difficult to control the disease. In this sense, the use of integrated disease management, specifically the use of resistant cultivars, is the most effective means to alleviate the serious damage that these diseases are causing and reduce the expansion of this pathogen. In 2008, the University of Cordoba started a project under the UCO Olive Breeding Program whose main objective has been to develop new olive cultivars with high resistance to Verticillium wilt. Since 2008, more than 18,000 genotypes from 154 progenies have been evaluated. Only 19.9% have shown some resistance to the disease in controlled conditions and only 28 have been preselected due to their resistance in field condition and remarkable agronomic characteristics. The results of this study represent an important advancement in the generation of resistant olive genotypes that will become commercial cultivars currently demanded by the olive growing sector. Our breeding program has proven successful, allowing the selection of several new genotypes with high resistance to the disease and agronomical performance. It also highlights the need for long-term field evaluations for the evaluation of resistance and characterization of olive genotypes.

An Evaluation of University Students’ Perceptions of Gender Violence—A Study of Its Prevalence in Southern Spain

Discovering students’ beliefs and values as regards gender violence is a fundamental factor when attempting to tackle this problem in the sphere of universities. This study presents the validation of a scale for university students’ perceptions of gender-based violence, denominated as the Gender Violence Perception Scale (GVP-S). This scale measures the degree to which the aforementioned perceptions are influenced by gender, the university degree in which participants are enrolled, the type of school to which (i.e., private or state) they attended, and the level of education reached by their parents. The study was carried out with a sample of 1870 students at the University of Cordoba (Spain), and its results revealed that: (1) the GVP-S is well adjusted to and has the optimum psychometric properties for the sample studied, and (2) there are significant differences according to gender, the university degree being studied and the students’ parents’ education, but not the type of secondary education establishment attended. The conclusion that was reached was that it is necessary to carry out more research in this area, to provide preventative measures and training programs regarding gender violence to university students.

European Environmental Databases. OpenDAP, Spanish context.

With the aim of facilitating sustainability assessment through Life Cycle Assessment, the Eduardo Torroja Institute of Construction Sciences. CSIC is developing a public database of environmental information: OpenDAP. One of the objectives of this database is to be compatible with other European databases but to be fully open, public and free of charge. With the participation in the project “Wood for Sustainable Construction Task Force”, whose coordinator was the University of Cordoba, 10 EPDs have been developed for different wood products and species, with a detailed study of each stage, using a spreadsheet and field studies for data collection.In this article we aim to demonstrate the need for environmental quantification of services and products in the construction sector, due to the importance of the global impact of this sector. With common procedures that allow us to obtain comparable and useful results for the final client who selects them. Both for generic and specific products, being stable and exportable. Allowing us to compare, reduce and improve our sustainability.

Curricularizar la extensión universitaria en la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba durante el grado: ¿mandato político o conciencia cívica estudiantil?

One of the issues linked to Extension that has caused the greatest tension and evolutionary leaps in the University over the decades, had to do with its different currents of thought, from the traditionalist model to the critical model. Extension seemed at times to be shrouded in an "epistemological haze" that prevented a clear conceptual understanding of its changing paradigms and its role as an essential pillar of the public university. However, thanks to these processes of change and the countless positions produced in relation to the dialogue of knowledge, the participation of teachers and their responsibility to society in the framework of the public university was strengthened. From this and from political management decisions, the concept of curricularising extensionist praxis from the Chairs arose, also taking students centre stage, with the aim of continuing to prioritise this process during their undergraduate training. This new phenomenon at the Faculty of Dentistry of the National University of Cordoba presents us with a challenge in which, in addition to continuing to develop the usual territorial practices, the theoretical conceptualizations that will provide academic support for the dialogical exchange of knowledge with society should be positioned.