University Of Barcelona Research Articles

Attitudes towards disability in Higher Education

In this article, we present data concerning the attitudes towards disability of students in Higher Education (HE) at a Spanish university. This research is part of a wider project designed to understand these attitudes at other Spanish universities and Brazilian and Portuguese Universities. The total sample was composed of 609 students (Mean age: 24.41; SD: 9.84), including undergraduates (85.7%) and postgraduates (14.3%) from different faculties at the University of Barcelona. Seventy-seven percent of the sample were women, and 6.1% had some disability. The first part of the instrument used collects sociodemographic information. The second part contains 43 statements grouped in three blocks: 17 relating to the biological model of disability, 15 to the social model, and 11 to the metaphysical perspective. The results showed the predominance of agreement with the social and biological conceptions of disability. Moreover, significant differences were found among the students' attitudes related to their year of study, age, faculty, and absence of disability. The results obtained represent a first step regarding the need to voice students with a disability in the processes required for their social inclusion.
 Keywords: attitudes towards disability, Higher Education, educational inclusion, models of disability

Top 100 cited publications in the field of third molar surgery: A bibliometric analysis

PurposeThis study aimed to identify and rank the top 100 cited papers related to third molar surgery MethodsThis bibliometric analysis was performed through the Clarivate Analytics’ Web of Science database intended to find the top 100 most cited papers. The search was conducted on 18th November 2021 with MeSH terms related to the third molar surgery. Extracted Data included title, main author, institution, publication year, a total of citations, citation average per year, country, the journal paper was published, journal impact factor, the number of citations of the three most-cited journals, study design, and field related to third molar surgery ResultsThe top-cited paper was a retrospective cohort related to complications after the third molars surgery, published in 2003 in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The total number of citations was 9026. Thirty-nine percent of the papers included were randomized clinical trials. The USA is the main country responsible for the best publications in the field of third molar surgery. European researchers had the main expressive citation score, and “surgery” related to the third molar was the most critical field of research Conclusions1) The United States of America was the leading country that contributed to third molar field research 2) The Universities of Barcelona and the University of North Carolina were the most productive institutions regarding this research field; 3) Complications after third molar surgery was the most researched field. Compared to the other fields in dentistry such as Oral pathology and Cariology, the number of citations regarding third molar surgery was low.

Digital iconography, conflict heritage, and the teaching of history: The case of the Spanish Civil War

Computed-generated imagery (CGI) generates diverse views and perceptions of the past. These new experiences impact, directly or indirectly, the teaching and learning of history. This article presents didactic iconographic works on the Spanish Civil War created by the DIDPATRI (Didactics of Heritage and New Technologies) research group at the University of Barcelona. The didactic approach to this conflict reveals various problems that make it an interesting testing ground for new iconographies that contribute to an understanding of it. The proposal looks at the generation of “virtual” iconography to facilitate the teaching of content in formal and non-formal spaces. It is argued that CGI opens up possibilities to researchers, teachers, students, and technicians for the generation of comprehensive communication elements of history. The attractiveness of this new “virtual” iconography of the past lies in the possibility to create integrated ensembles where the facts, concepts, situations, and representations of materiality that the creators want to represent can appear. The resulting iconographic product can be applied for use in various environments, such as teaching, heritage, tourism, and cultural industries, and via different media, such as panels, apps, web, audio-visuals, museography, games, books, and notebooks.

Reviewer Acknowledgements for International Journal of English and Cultural Studies, Vol. 5, No. 1

International Journal of English and Cultural Studies (IJECS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether IJECS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue. Reviewers for Volume 5, Number 1 Alvaro Recio, University of Salamanca, SpainEmmanuel Chibuzor Okereke, National Examinations Council, NigeriaEsther Pujolràs-Noguer, Autonomous University of Barcelona, SpainHerman, University of HKBP Nommensen, IndonesiaJelena Timotijevic, University of Brighton, United KingdomMohammed Nasser, Wasit University, IraqShashi Naidu, Ball State University, United States Nina HowardEditorial AssistantInternational Journal of English and Cultural StudiesRedfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97006-6018, USAWebsite: http://ijecs.redfame.com

New perspectives on the Sertorian War in northeastern Hispania: archaeological surveys of the Roman camps of the lower River Ebro

AbstractIn recent decades, conflict archaeology has renewed study of the Roman Republican military, with Hispania as one of the most prolific areas of research. Following this trend, since 2006 the University of Barcelona has conducted archaeological investigations at several sites in the lower Ebro basin. When no structures or archaeological layers remained in situ, surface survey became a key methodology. Based on the artifacts retrieved during surface survey, this article identifies four new military establishments dated to the first half of the 1st c. BCE and reinterprets the campaigns of the Sertorian War in northeastern Spain.

Social Museography and Sustainable Historical Heritage

The Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations in the 2030 agenda point out the need to safeguard cultural heritage and the importance of convergence towards quality education. Through different museum projects (between 2010 and 2021), the DIDPATRI research group of the University of Barcelona has developed heritage museum models following sustainability parameters. The lines of work have been based on the use of previous museum cultures (integrating existing models) to respond to the needs of the present. The working hypotheses have raised the need to build a new social museography around the historical heritage, which can respond to the social demands of citizen education and sustainability. Museography should be oriented to formal and non-formal teaching-learning environments. Social museography must be based on the understanding of historical heritage in broad sectors of the public as well as on the participation of social agents, civil society, and the scientific community. Social museography must be based on the enhancement of heritage resources (tangible or intangible) in a way that is compatible with sustainable development options; it must be built with the support of protocols that consider production costs that are consistent with the economic and social resources available and with the reasonable use of complex technologies. This desire for research (on the paths of a new social museography) has been channeled through the development of research and transfer projects. The results obtained have generated empirical models that have contributed (methodologically) to the development of museographic options that respond to emerging demands in the environment of historical-archaeological heritage.

Abstracts 8th PCNE working symposium ‘Navigating research on pharmaceutical care’. 11–12 February 2022, Lisbon, Portugal

Abstracts 8th PCNE working symposium ‘Navigating research on pharmaceutical care’. 11–12 February 2022, Lisbon, Portugal

Gas‐phase errors affect DFT‐based electrocatalysis models of oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide

AbstractInvited for this month's cover picture is the group of Federico Calle‐Vallejo and Francesc Illas from the University of Barcelona (Spain). The cover picture shows that there are three ways of simulating the energy landscape of oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide with density functional theory: without any corrections (yellow), with O2 corrections (yellow/red), and with O2 and H2O2 corrections (red); only the latter agrees with experiments. Read the full text of the Research Article at 10.1002/celc.202200210

Effects of the Prior Use of Statins on Head and Neck Cancer Risk: A Hospital-Based Case-Control Study.

Mechanisms related to the potential beneficial effects of statins on cancer are mainly related to the inhibition of the mevalonate pathway. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between prior use of statins and the risk of head and neck cancer. A hospital-based case–control study was conducted at the Dentistry Hospital of the University of Barcelona, including 101 incident cases of head and neck cancer and 101 controls matched to cases by age and sex. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between prior statin exposure and head and neck cancer risk. Of the 202 patients included in total, 28.2% had previously received prescriptions for statins. Prior use of statins was found in 25.7% of cases and 30.7% of controls. Exposure to statins was not associated with head and neck cancer risk (OR = 0.72; 95% CI 0.28–1.84; p = 0.49). There was also no time- or dose-dependent association. Similar trends were observed when analyzed by subsites of cancer and recurrence rate. Our findings do not support a beneficial effect of prior statin exposure on head and neck cancer risk. Future research relying on observational data should emulate randomized clinical trials before clinical implications for repurposing drugs can be drawn.

Job precariousness and poverty dynamics among households with children

In Spain, 70% of children in poverty live in households with one or more workers; equally, households with children make up the majority of households in in-work poverty (53%) despite representing only 27% of all households. However, in-work poverty and child poverty are often thought of as separate problems. Most analyses on in-work poverty in Spain use data from a single year and focus on working individuals. However, since households share needs and resources, understanding the factors that increase the risk of poverty requires studying households. In this work, carried out at the Demographic Studies Centre at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, we adopt a dynamic perspective to analyse the interrelationship between child and in-work poverty, and specifically the high in-work poverty rates in households with children and adolescents. Using longitudinal data from the Living Conditions Survey (2017-2020), we examine the role played by childbirth/adoption, the presence of children in the household and their age in the processes of impoverishment. We find that in 2020 only 4% of households entering in-work poverty experienced an increase in the number of children and adolescents in the household. In contrast, 37% of entrants experienced a decrease in income without decreasing the number of workers (for example, due to a temporary period of unemployment), and 29% a reduction in unemployment benefit income. Households with children tend to have greater difficulties in escaping poverty, which translates into longer periods in in-work poverty. We conclude that changes in employment status are more relevant than changes in household composition for understanding child and working poverty. Additionally, the role of risk factors such as temporary employment is compounded in households with children, further reducing their poverty exit rates. Reducing child poverty requires tackling in-work poverty and vice versa

Bibliometric analysis of global research progress on electrochemical degradation of organic pollutants.

As a result of anthropogenic action, an increasing amount of toxic organic compounds has been released into the environment. These pollutants have adverse effects on human health and wildlife, which has motivated the development of different types of technologies for the treatment of effluents and contaminated environments. The electrochemical degradation of organic pollutants has attracted the interest of research centers around the world for its environmental compatibility, high efficiency, and affordable cost. In the present study, a bibliometric analysis was performed using the Web of Science database in order to assess the progress of publications related to electrochemical degradation of organic pollutants between the years 2001 and 2021. The data retrieved showed a significant increase in publications related to the topic in the last 20 years. Electrochimica Acta was the magazine responsible for the largest number of publications (291, 6.52%). The studies mainly included the areas of engineering, chemistry, and environmental science ecology. China with a total of 1472 (32.96%) publications dominated research in this area, followed by Spain (436, 9.76%) and Brazil (345, 7.72%). The institutions with the highest number of contributions were the University of Barcelona and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the most productive authors were Brillas E. and Oturan M. A. The results of this study provide important references and information on possible research directions for future investigations on electrochemical degradation of organic pollutants.

Retrospective Study of Biohorizons® Implants Placed by Postgraduate Students at the University of Barcelona

The study aimed to evaluate the survival and failure rate, in the short- and medium-term, in addition to its relationship with risk factors, in implants placed by postgraduate students of the Master of Medicine, Surgery, and Oral Implantology course from the University of Barcelona. The study was designed including 192 patients with 422 implants placed between 2015 and 2018. Variables of implant failure were evaluated and related. Failure was split into early failure and late failure. Qualitative data were compared using the chi-squared test, taking p ≤ 0.05 as a significant value. The comparison of quantitative variables was carried out using the Student’s t-test for independent samples. The survival rate in a period of 6 months to 3 years was 97.87%. The mean age of the patients was (54.5 ± 13), and the largest number of implants were placed in the 51–60 age range. The failure rate was 2.13% (N = 9), 6 failed early and 3 failed after definitive prosthetic loading, with a p value < 0.0001. When comparing the failures according to their location in the anterior/posterior sector of the arch, the anterior sector showed statistically significant results (p = 0.027). Failed implants had a statistically significant relationship when they were placed in the anterior sector and were performed in the early stage.

Nursing students' perceptions of the efficacy of narrative photography as a learning method: A cross-sectional study.

Although active learning methodologies promote students' creativity and motivation regarding learning objectives, traditional unidirectional teaching methods remain more common. The objective of this study was to determine nursing students' perceptions regarding the efficacy of narrative photography as a learning method, including self-perceived satisfaction. Narrative photography is an art-based technique inspired by Photovoice that promotes empathy, creativity, and reflection. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a nonprobabilistic sample of 66 nursing students from a public university in Barcelona, Spain. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected anonymously using an electronic tool. Descriptive statistics and thematic analyses were used to analyze the data. Sixty valid questionnaires were returned. The respondents found narrative photography's ability to promote creativity and assist understanding of theory to be its most satisfying aspect (>95% somewhat/totally agree). Narrative photography's usefulness, ability to foster self-criticism, and the associated workload was the least satisfactory aspect (>55% somewhat/totally agree). Significant differences regarding satisfaction levels were found for both age and sex. Narrative photography is a helpful and satisfactory learning method, especially for promoting creativity and understanding theoretical concepts.

The first thousand days of mother and child: a lifelong investment in oral health!

Obstetricians, gynaecologists, paediatricians, pharmacists, paediatric dentists and hygienists are all health professionals that women encounter during the perinatal period. Today we know that during pregnancy and even earlier-at a pregnancy planning phase-the factors that will influence the future of the child's oral health are established. These are the 1,000 days stretching from conception to the child's second year of life, a time that will influence the health of oral cavity for life, and the foundations for the overall health are laid. In fact, oral health is the result of the ongoing prevention carried out by all the above-mentioned health professionals and operators. Often, dental diseases result from misinformation, mistakes and carelessness that begin in pregnancy and continue for the first few years of life. During pregnancy there is an increased risk for and/or worsening of periodontal diseases and a higher incidence of dental erosion and caries for the mother-to -be. In turn, this can even lead to an increase in pregnancy-related diseases such as premature births and miscarriages. Maternal nutrition, oral hygiene and lifestyle choices are the main elements influencing the health of both the mother and the child. Adequate nutrient levels during crucial periods of fetal development can lead to optimal fetal tissue programming and confer the child a greater protection against chronic diseases later in life. It is therefore imperative to promote information campaigns on these topics to prepare caregivers and women for the perinatal period. A survey carried out in Italy on a sample of women of childbearing age shows widespread misinformation about the oral health of mothers and children. The knowledge of health providers is also unsatisfactory: while most respondents recognise the importance of care during pregnancy, they do not advise patients to have dental check-ups or ask them if they have underwent dental care in the previous 12 months. We are carrying out a similar project with the University of Barcelona and it would be interesting to have data from other countries: we will consider them for immediate publication in our journal. Only by improving our knowledge of different realities we will achieve an effective dissemination of information and reduce the incidence of both pregnancy-related pathologies and those affecting childhood. We are looking forward to your contributions!

Designing Heritage Itineraries in Trainee Teachers Through Virtual Inter-University and Collaboration Groups: The Examples of Barcelona and La Laguna in Social Sciences Teaching

In the following paper, we present some general results of an innovative teaching experience carried out by the University of La Laguna (ULL) and the University of Barcelona (UB). The project took place during a 6-week period by applying for cooperative work among early childhood (n = 109) and primary (n = 86) education trainee teachers in a selected virtual environment (ULL). One of the key aspects was the inter-university student’s grouping among both bachelor programs (early childhood and primary). The project had two main aims, which are as follows: (1) to familiarize students with heritage itineraries as key tools for the teaching of Social Sciences and (2) to develop professional competencies related to the coordination of teachers among educational levels, teaching, and learning strategies when using historical heritage and improving digital competencies. To achieve these aims, a three-phase intervention was designed (planning, design, and evaluation), all including active learning and the use of local environments as a teaching resource. To investigate the outcomes of the project, two sources of data were analyzed, namely, the results of a rubric and an opinion questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = 0.693), applied pre- (n = 185), and post- (n = 152) intervention. The descriptive statistical analysis was carried out with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS; v. 22) showing the positive learning outcomes of the participants. The rubric’s results showed that collaborative work and skills development scored higher, while contents of Social Sciences and the handling of heritage itineraries as teaching strategies were correct but lower than the other parameters analyzed. The questionnaire showed a positive perception of working together in consecutive educational levels and of the uses of digital technology for collaborative work but also indicated some difficulties regarding group organization, especially in the first weeks. The main results of the project highlight several aspects. (1) The need to apply pedagogical, technological, and educational resources to promote active and meaningful learning in future teachers. (2) The need to use virtual environments as learning and communication spaces in inter-university contexts, and (3) the importance of using local environments as scenarios for teaching Social Sciences.

Editorial introductions

Editorial introductions

Person-centred care provided by a multidisciplinary primary care team to improve therapeutic adequacy in polymedicated elderly patients (PCMR): randomised controlled trial protocol

IntroductionThe increase in elderly population has led to an associated increase in multiple pathologies, frailty, polypharmacy, healthcare costs, decreased quality of life and mortality. We designed an intervention based on...

The reception of psychodrama in Spain: Correspondence between Jacob Levy Moreno and Ramón Sarró.

Jacob Levy Moreno, the well-known creator of psychodrama, had a close epistolary relationship with the Spanish psychiatrist Ramón Sarró; a collection of these letters has been located in the Sarró personal archive, deposited in the Library of Catalonia. After locating and arranging this correspondence, we proceeded to analyze and contextualize its contents. The analysis of this collection serves as a basis to outline the context in which the relationship between Moreno and Sarró developed, the role played by certain psychotherapy congresses in strengthening their relationships, and the process that resulted in the University of Barcelona awarding Moreno Doctor Honoris Causa. This study has allowed us to identify certain areas of how psychodrama was received in Spain during the 1960s and reflect on the creation of international collaboration networks and the creation of schools and professional and academic legitimation strategies in the wake of the approaches to group psychotherapy and psychodrama that Moreno developed while based in New York. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Graduates and competences: analyzing the gap between university and enterprise

As a result of the process of convergence relative to higher education initiated in Bologna in 1999, the role of the University in the society is undergoing a profound transformation. The traditional paradigm, according to which the University is the point of departure for constructing knowledge at the highest level, is now under consideration in order to accommodate more vocational training studies, which include the acquisition of competencies as a central pillar. Nevertheless, two of the main actors that play a role in the process, academics and entrepreneurs, have different points of view with respect to the skills a graduate entering the labor market should have. Based on the results from a survey conducted at the University of Barcelona, we will show how firms turn in favor of competencies related to medium-short term productivity, whereas the university balks at setting aside knowledge with more scientific nature. This scenario reinforces the need of a deeper dialogue between University and firms, pointing out the benefits that some adjustments in college training may end up providing the society.

Narrative photography with an expert patient as a method to improve empathy: a satisfaction study with health sciences students.

To assess health sciences students' satisfaction with narrative photography with an expert patient as an empathy-fostering teaching method. Nineteen students from a public medical sciences university in Barcelona (Spain) voluntarily completed six online training sessions using narrative photography and expert patient. Data were collected using an anonymous online satisfaction questionnaire verified by experts, including 29 quantitative and qualitative questions that were analyzed descriptively. Eighteen valid questionnaires were obtained (90% response rate). All students evaluated the teaching method as highly satisfactory. The main positive aspects of the teaching method were being able to express one's emotions and reflections. Students felt the activity enhanced their empathy and helped them minimize their prejudices, specifically to patients living with HIV. Students also evaluated the online format as less optimal than if it were delivered in person. The students found the teaching method to have a personal and professional impact, which facilitated the integration of empathy in their daily practice when caring for people living with HIV.