University Of Almeria Research Articles

Effectiveness of a Haemorrhage-Control Task Simulator for Training Nursing Students: A Quasi-Experimental before-after Study

Aim. To assess the efficacy of a low-cost haemorrhage-control task simulator integrated in a high-fidelity simulation scenario to facilitate knowledge and practical skills acquisition, as well as self-efficacy in haemorrhage control among nursing students. Design. A quasiexperimental before-after design was conducted at the University of Almeria. Methods. A one-group preintervention, immediate postintervention, and a third assessment at three months were performed, with the Stop the Bleed Education Assessment Tool used to evaluate knowledge of haemorrhage control, as well as a 5-point Likert scale used to evaluate perceived self-efficacy. The success of controlling exsanguinating bleeding was determined by quantifying the millilitres lost during the intervention and calculating the time required to control the haemorrhaging. The data were reported using the TREND guidelines. Results. One hundred and three final-year nursing students participated in this study. Significant improvements (p<0.001) were observed in pre- and posttest total scores on knowledge of bleeding control, self-efficacy, as well as time is taken and volume loss to control the haemorrhage. Similar results were observed between preassessment and three months postassessment with significant improvements (p<0.001) in all measures. Conclusions. The use of a haemorrhage-control task simulator within a high-fidelity simulation scenario resulted in noteworthy improvements in nursing students’ practical skills, knowledge retention, and self-efficacy. After three months, performance decreased but remained greater than pretraining levels. Thus, broadening the use of this task-training simulator would be of great value to further develop a first responder training approach with healthcare professionals and other laypersons, allowing for greater knowledge distribution and reaching a larger audience. Implications for Nursing Management. The findings underscore the potential efficacy of this simulator as a valuable resource for nursing educators and supervisors to train nursing students and professionals in terms of practical skills, knowledge retention, and self-efficacy in haemorrhage control, fostering a train-the-trainer cascade approach to reach a wider audience and enhance bleeding control proficiency among professionals.

A PID-based control architecture for mobile robot path planning in greenhouses

This article presents a control strategy for an Ackermann mobile robot designed for greenhouse operation, based on a cascade control mechanism. It controls both, (i) an inner loop, based on PID, for two motors, and (ii) a classic Pure Pursuit control for the outer loop. In addition, a feedforward control strategy is proposed to address the issue of the natural variable terrain in greenhouses in southern Spain. Path following will be evaluated using a 2D model of the experimental greenhouse to obtain coordinates that will be assessed in simulation. Open-loop tests were conducted on a real agricultural robot prototype, AGRICOBIOT II, designed and built at the University of Almeria.

Healthy Eating in the Spanish University Community: A Case Study

The Mediterranean Diet (MedD), which UNESCO recognizes as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, constitutes a healthy eating pattern that helps prevent illness. The aim of this work is to know how well the university community of Almeria (Spain) adheres to MedD as a healthy lifestyle standard. For this purpose, the authors administered a survey to students, teachers, and administrative and service personnel at the University of Almeria. The sample for the survey comprised 610 people. Of whom, 64.7% were women; 23% were Teaching, and Research Staff (PDI); 17.3% were Administration and Services Staff (PAS); and 59.7% were students. The average age was 32 years. Results show an average level of MedD adherence overall in the university community, although 40.9% have a low adherence level. The most representative MedD adherent can be profiled as a young Spanish female, who values sustainability, reads the labels of the products she consumes, exercises regularly, cooks healthy food, and recycles waste. We suggest [to the University authorities] to advertise the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet among the university community and offer menus based on the MedD in the university canteen.

SCADA System for Online Electrical Engineering Education

Renewable energy sources are increasingly being integrated into small-scale production systems, so plants with multiple supply sources are becoming more common. This improvement in technology added to a greater social awareness of energy saving and resource usage, which makes flexible systems to manage these facilities necessary. Modern energy management can be more accessible to the interested public if it is located in universities, making it available to teachers and students alike. Furthermore, as it is a developing field of study, its location on campus facilitates research, maintenance, and financing. In this scenario, a SCADA system is proposed, capable of monitoring and centrally storing the values of the most important production and consumption parameters. In addition, by using this system, it is possible to control the state of the different energy sources in a centralized way, as well as their distribution in the plant where it is implemented. This study focuses on the management of a flexible, modern, and accessible solution to the advances in electrical systems because of technological development in this field, which broadens the experience of university teachers and students in their engineering careers. The systems have been put into practice in the facilities of a research and teaching laboratory at the University of Almeria, which integrates renewable and conventional energy resources.

Effects of a Personalised Physical Exercise Program on University Workers Overall Well-Being: "UAL-Activa" Program.

Background and objectives: Regular individualised physical exercise (PE) is a habit that not only has consequences for overall health (physical, emotional, social and mental) but can also have positive effects on organisations and institutions, as it helps workers to improve their personal balance and recover from the effort of their working day, showing higher levels of energy, commitment and productivity. The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between the practice of PE and well-being in personal life and at work, as well as job satisfaction, overall health and the assessment of the personal training service provided by final-year students studying for a degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences. Methods: This study used a qualitative research methodology. There were 25 employees of the University of Almeria (UAL) (M = 52.16 ± 9.55 years), divided into two focus groups and participating in the physical exercise program “UAL Activa”. Results: The following three main themes, based on the results, emerged: (a) social well-being during PE practice, (b) assessment of the personal training service and (c) physical exercise as an emotional benefit at work. Conclusion. The workers’ interventions have shown that participating in a personalised PE program led by a personal trainer can improve overall health and mood, with a very positive influence on the working environment.

Exploring the microaggression experiences of LGBTQ+ community for a culturally safe care: A descriptive qualitative study

BackgroundMicroaggressions, stigma and minority stress still occur among sexual and gender minorities on an individual, interpersonal, and structural level. Cultural immersion may therefore be an effective strategy in order to find potential healthcare approaches and foster more comprehensive, critical, intersectional, and inclusive care practices. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to develop insight into the experiences of LGBTQ+ community members to obtain in-depth perceptions of microaggressions and an understanding of their healthcare needs to provide a culturally safe and sensitive care. DesignA qualitative descriptive study was conducted between September to November 2021. SettingsThis study was conducted at the University of Almeria with LGBTQ+ community members. ParticipantsTwenty-one LGBTQ+ individual participated in this study, aged between 18 and 56 years old. MethodsParticipants were recruited using a purposive sampling. Responses from semi-structured interviews were studied using a thematic analysis. Methods and findings are reported in line with Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research recommendations. ResultsThree themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: (i) experiences to understand the impact of a heteronormative society, (ii) perceptions of engaging with health education and promotion, and (iii) healthcare access, use and experiences within the LGTBQ+ community. ConclusionsThis study yields findings about the difficulties that LGBTQ+ community members face in the healthcare system in order to ensure equal care for vulnerable communities and integrate a culturally safe care approach into nursing practice. Certain microaffirmation strategies against social determinants of health such as school-based nursing strategies can help to raise awareness and knowledge among heterosexual peers and reduce cultural invisibility, microaggressions, stigma and minority stress. In order to provide culturally safe care, educators might also explore the inclusion of gender and sexual minority care content in both in-faculty education and ongoing continuing education for nurse practitioners.

A serious game for online-based objective structured clinical examination in nursing: A qualitative study

BackgroundThe current pandemic has led to unprecedented scenarios worldwide. In this context, educational institutions had to move abruptly from in-person to online classes, having to be flexible and innovative, one of the main concerns being the semester-end examinations in practical modules. ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore nursing students' perceptions of the use of a serious game-like model in their final online objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). DesignAn exploratory phenomenological study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular during June 2020. SettingsThis study took place at the University of Almeria with nursing students enrolled in a clinical placement module. ParticipantsEighty-nine fourth-year nursing students took part in this study. MethodsFollowing the educational principles of the OSCE, a virtual OSCE was designed, using the Genially platform, an online platform for creating interactive content, to set up an assessment as a story-telling game-like model. A total of 5 focus groups (FGs) were conducted afterwards via the GoogleMeet platform. In addition, 30 semi-structured interviews were performed via the same platform. The data was analysed using a content analysis approach and supported by the ATLAS.ti 8.4 software. ResultsOur finding revealed 2 main themes and 4 sub-themes. The two main themes were (i) generating emotions and feelings in times of virtuality; including emotions and feelings experienced by students during their online assessment process, and (ii) online assessment: a potential alternative to educational barriers; describing the variability of traditional modality, its implications for learning and the acquisition of competences. ConclusionsSerious game-like models, such as the story-telling game proposed, as part of their online OSCE assessment appear to be an appropriate alternative assessment method for face-to-face approaches. This paper adds new evidence on the use of innovative and state-of-art resources as part of nursing OSCE assessments in a new reality for most students and teachers. Serious game-like models in online OSCE may empower students and help them to remove perceived barriers in face-to-face assessments.

The impact of using an “anatomy escape room” on nursing students: A comparative study

BackgroundAnatomy is an important part of health science education. In teaching anatomy, new teaching strategies have been studied in comparison with traditional-based approaches. In this manner, strategies such as the escape room-based approach have been used as an innovative learning approach in nursing education, but little is known about its application in an Anatomy module. ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of the escape room for anatomy-related knowledge retention in nursing and the perceived value of the game. DesignIn the first semesters of the academic years 2017–2018 and 2018–2019, a comparative cross-sectional study was conducted. SettingsThis study took place at the University of Almeria with students enrolled in the Anatomy module. ParticipantsA total of 248 first-year nursing students took part in the study. MethodsThe study included two groups: an experimental group (EG) that participated in an escape room in the final session of their Anatomy module, and a control group (CG) that received a traditional-based teaching approach in their final lesson. ResultsStudents enrolled in the Anatomy module were randomly assigned to either the experimental (EG, n = 128) or control groups (CG, n = 120). The escape room was conducted in groups of four and lasted no more than 15 min. In terms of satisfaction with the escape room, EG scored above the mean. The item “I enjoyed playing” received the highest score (4.88 ± 0.35). Taking the final scores of each group into account, the EG had a final average score of 8.94 ± 0.96, while the CG had a final average score of 7.70 ± 1.25 (p = 0.001). ConclusionsAccording to the findings, the “Anatomy Escape Room” is a game-based approach that motivates students and constitutes a down-to-earth resource for anatomy learning in healthcare students.

Learning Mathematics of Financial Operations during the COVID-19 Era: An Assessment with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all walks of life, including education. Universities have been forced to teach in a blended or online environment, which has led professors to adapt their traditional teaching–learning methodologies. The professors of Mathematics of Financial Operations at the University of Almeria (Spain) have created video tutorials so that students can autonomously prepare the theoretical part of the subject, leaving the face-to-face classes for practical exercises. This article aims to analyze the effectiveness of video tutorials and the autonomy finally achieved by students in their learning. For this purpose, a questionnaire was carried out in which, through 21 questions, the constructs Autonomy, Effectiveness, Depth, Format, Challenge, and Use were assessed. Based on these six latent variables, the proposed model using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) methodology revealed that students considered the Format and Depth of the video tutorials crucial for genuinely effective performance learning and promoting their autonomy. On the other hand, the variables Challenge and Use were poorly rated. This article presents an original valuation model, which has the virtue of achieving a prediction of 78.6% and, in addition, has high predictive power.

Sex Differences in Spatial Memory: Comparison of Three Tasks Using the Same Virtual Context.

Spatial memory has been studied through different instruments and tools with different modalities of administration. The cognitive load varies depending on the measure used and it should be taken into account to correctly interpret results. The aim of this research was to analyze how men and women perform three different spatial memory tasks with the same spatial context but with different cognitive demands. A total of 287 undergraduate students from the University of Almeria (Spain) and the University of L’Aquila (Italy) participated in the study. They were divided into three groups balanced by sex according to the spatial memory test they performed: the Walking Space Boxes Room Task (WSBRT), the Almeria Spatial Memory Recognition Test (ASMRT) and the Non-Walking Space Boxes Room Task (NWSBRT). Time spent and number of errors/correct answers were registered for analysis. In relation to the WSBRT and the ASMRT, men were faster and reached the optimal level of performance before women. In the three tests, familiarity with the spatial context helped to reduce the number of errors, regardless of the level of difficulty. In conclusion, sex differences were determined by the familiarity with the spatial context, the difficulty level of the task, the active or passive role of the participant and the amount of visual information provided in each screen shot.

Optimal Management of a Microgrid with Radiation and Wind-Speed Forecasting: A Case Study Applied to a Bioclimatic Building

An Energy Management System (EMS) that uses a Model Predictive Control (MPC) to manage the flow of the microgrids is described in this work. The EMS integrates both wind speed and solar radiation predictors by using a time series to perform the primary grid forecasts. At each sampling data measurement, the power of the photovoltaic system and wind turbine are predicted. Then, the MPC algorithm uses those predictions to obtain the optimal power flows of the microgrid elements and the main network. In this work, three time-series predictors are analyzed. As the results will show, the MPC strategy becomes a powerful energy management tool when it is integrated with the Double Exponential Smoothing (DES) predictor. This new scheme of integrating the DES method with an MPC presents a good management response in real-time and overcomes the results provided by the Optimal Power Flow method, which was previously proposed in the literature. For the case studies, the test microgrid located in the CIESOL bioclimatic building of the University of Almeria (Spain) is used.

Design and Validation of a Questionnaire on Influence of the University Classroom on Motivation and Sociability

In recent years, the changes experienced in the educational and social field have been reflected in the growing interest in defining how the attributes of the learning space affect students. This study seeks to determine the influence exerted by the design and organization of the university classroom on motivation and social interaction. The objective was to develop and validate a measurement instrument to evaluate the impact of the university classroom design on the student, considering their physical, environmental, perceptual, and motivational attributes. The questionnaire was applied to a sample of 402 students from the University of Almeria (Spain). The reliability and content validity of the construct were analyzed. Reliability was demonstrated by a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.938 for the dimensions with quantitative cut items, being highly satisfactory. The Chi-square goodness of fit test analyzed the qualitative items. Content validity was subject to expert judgment. It is concluded that the presented instrument meets the required technical attributes, to be considered a reliable and valid educational tool for measurement.

Development and Results from Application of PCM-Based Storage Tanks in a Solar Thermal Comfort System of an Institutional Building—A Case Study

An important element of a solar installation is the storage tank. When properly selected and operated, it can bring numerous benefits. The presented research relates to a project that is implemented at the Solar Energy Research Center of the University of Almeria in Spain. In order to improve the operation of the solar cooling and heating system of the Center, it was upgraded with two newly designed storage tanks filled with phase change materials (PCM). As a result of design works, commercial material S10 was selected for the accumulation of cold, and S46 for the accumulation of heat, in an amount of 85% and 15%, respectively. The article presents in detail the process of selecting the PCM material, designing the installation, experimental research, and exergy analysis. Individual tasks were carried out by research groups cooperating under the PCMSOL EUROPEAN PROJECT. Results of tests conducted on the constructed installation indicate that daily energy saving when using a solar chiller with PCM tanks amounts to 40% during the cooling season.

Perception of nursing students about the implementation of GREENS© methodology in nursing studies

BackgroundThe Gymkhana Room for Education and Evaluation in Nursing Studies (GREENS©) is a pedagogical model that can be used as a learning and assessment method in nursing training workshops. This model combines the advantages of gamification, the flipped classroom and the use of low-fidelity clinical simulation, also including self-reflection and peer evaluation of the situations experienced. ObjectivesTo evaluate the students' perception of the implementation of GREENS© as a learning and assessment tool in an academic course at the University of Almeria. DesignA cross-sectional descriptive study. SettingsAcademic year 2018/2019, at the University of Almeria (UAL), Spain. Participants77 students enrolled in their 2nd year of the Nursing Degree who attended the “Health Promotion and Safety” class. MethodsAfter completing the GREENS© activity, the perception and anxiety of students were analyzed through an online ad hoc questionnaire composed of 17 questions. Data were collected in January 2019. ResultsAll of the questions scored above 4 out of a maximum of 5 on a Likert scale. For all the questions, >50% of the students were in total agreement with the questions answered, showing a high acceptance of the GREENS© methodology implementation. The students reported that their anxiety decreased significantly, with a score of 4.7 points on average (95% CI: 4.16 to 5.33, p < 0.001), after knowing that the assessment would be through a gamification tool, not an oral one. More than 60% of the students answered “agree” or “strongly agree” with the idea that GREENS© is useful for improving motivation, teamwork, learning, fun and knowledge assessment. ConclusionsThe use of GREENS© has generated a high satisfaction and motivation of the students in their learning process, and as an assessment tool, it created a lower degree of anxiety as compared to an oral examination.

Models of good teaching practices for mobile learning in higher education

Mobile learning is an emerging teaching methodology in the university system. Every year, the International Horizon Reports highlight the trend of implementing mobile devices in the classroom. Therefore, the Spanish university system presents the current challenge of adapting these resources to improve student learning, in line with the knowledge society in which we are immersed. This requires examples of good teaching practice. The purposes of this paper were to evaluate the mobile learning (m-learning) practices implemented by university teachers and to compile experiences on good teaching practices of m-learning developed in the classroom. A mixed method was used in which the responses of 1125 professors from 59 different universities located throughout Spain were analyzed. The APMU scale developed by the authors was applied for the detection of good teaching practices of m-learning and the structured interview for the collection of concrete experiences of good teaching practices. The results showed that the largest proportion of good teaching practices were concentrated at the University of La Laguna, University of Almeria, University of La Rioja, Camilo José Cela University and University of Seville. Furthermore, three experiences carried out by teachers who were agents of good practice were collected. Based on this, three models of good teaching practices were generated and exemplified through the concept mapping technique. Finally, the main findings and implications of the study are discussed.

Sustainable Thermal Energy Generation at Universities by Using Loquat Seeds as Biofuel

Global energy consumption has increased the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG), these being the main cause of global warming. Within renewable energies, bioenergy has undergone a great development in recent years. This is due to its carbon neutral balance and the fact that bioenergy can be obtained from a range of biomass resources, including residues from forestry, agricultural or livestock industries, the rapid rotation of forest plantations, the development of energy crops, organic matter from urban solid waste, and other sources of organic waste from agro-food industries. Processing factories that use loquats to make products such as liqueurs and jams generate large amounts of waste mainly in the form of skin and stones or seeds. These wastes are disposed of and sent to landfills without making environmentally sustainable use of them. The University of Almeria Sports Centre is made up of indoor spaces in which different sports can be practiced: sports centre pavilion (central court and two lateral courts), rocodrome, fitness room, cycle inner room, and indoor swimming pool. At present, the indoor swimming pool of the University of Almeria (UAL) has two fuel oil boilers, with a nominal power of 267 kW. The main objective of this study is to propose an energetic analysis to determine, on the one hand, the energetic properties of the loquat seed and, on the other hand, to evaluate its suitability to be used as a solid biofuel to feed the boilers of the heated swimming pool of the University of Almeria (Spain), highlighting the significant energy and environmental savings obtained. Results show that the higher calorific value of loquat seed (17.205 MJ/kg), is like other industrial wastes such as wheat straw, or pistachio shell, which demonstrates the energy potential of this residual biomass. In addition, the change of the fuel oil boiler to a biomass (loquat seed) boiler in the UAL’s indoor swimming pool means a reduction of 147,973.8 kg of CO2 in emissions into the atmosphere and an annual saving of 35,739.5 €, which means a saving of 72.78% with respect to the previous fuel oil installation. A sensitivity analysis shows that fuel cost of base case is the variable with the most sensitivity changing the initial cost and net present value (NPV).

The Influence of Emotional Intelligence on Resilience, Test Anxiety, Academic Stress and the Mediterranean Diet. A Study with University Students.

The academic transition to university is a turning point in young people’s lifestyles. However, studies to date have focused on student behaviour within the classroom context, rather than on the consequences it may have on their lifestyle. This study aims to analyze the influence of emotional intelligence of university students on their resilience, academic stress, exam anxiety, and eating habits related to the Mediterranean diet at the university stage. This study was carried out with the participation of 733 male and 614 female students from the University of Almeria, aged between 19 and 27. A structural equation model was made to explain the causal relationships between the variables. The results showed emotional intelligence positively predicted resilience. In turn, test anxiety and academic stress were negatively predicted by resilience. Finally, test anxiety and academic stress were negatively predicted by the Mediterranean diet. In short, the results of the present study have shown that academic transfer to university and grading pressure can generate maladaptive consequences for food consumption.

Anti‐consumption beyond boundaries: From niche topic to global phenomena

AbstractThe first anti‐consumption special issue was published by Psychology &amp; Marketing in 2002. More than a decade later, in 2018, the International Center for Anti‐consumption Research held its seventh Symposium at the University of Almeria, Spain. This gathering was accompanied by an open call‐for‐papers in Psychology &amp; Marketing to create a much‐anticipated follow‐up special issue. Many papers were received for both the symposium and official call. This editorial introduces the final 10 papers that comprise the Psychology &amp; Marketing 2020 special issue on anti‐consumption. While the area of anti‐consumption has mushroomed into a vast array of work since 2002, this editorial provides four major themes that help to frame the contributions of the 10 new papers as well as set the scene for future work in anti‐consumption. The four themes are: Conceptual clarity and refinement; ideological perspectives; environmental and sustainability focus; and novel outlooks on anti‐consumption.

Introducción del 'Proceso de Diseño' en el aula de dibujo técnico como propuesta para el empoderamiento creativo del alumnado

En este trabajo se presenta una nueva propuesta docente para las clases de dibujo técnico (expresión gráfica), en la que se incorpora el “Proceso de Diseño” al aula. Se ha trabajado la metodología de forma experimental, a través de un seminario-taller con un grupo de estudiantes del Máster en Profesorado de Educación Secundaria (especialidad en “Dibujo, Imagen y Artes Plásticas”) de la Universidad de Almería (España). El objetivo es brindar al futuro profesorado perspectivas y herramientas alternativas que proyecten un mayor dinamismo a la enseñanza-aprendizaje de la materia. El seminario se desarrolló siguiendo un planteamiento de co-participación (docente-alumnado). Además, inicialmente se reflexionó sobre el concepto de diseño y sus dificultades para abordar su definición. Con respecto al análisis de la experiencia, se han relacionado diferentes procedimientos metodológicos: índice NPS (Net Promoter Score), escala Likert de 0-10 puntos y estadísticos descriptivos. Los hallazgos obtenidos apuntan a que el enfoque metodológico propuesto es útil para el futuro profesorado de la asignatura de dibujo técnico, y favorece el desarrollo de la creatividad entre el alumnado. Esta propuesta podría inscribirse dentro de la incipiente filosofía educativa “STEAM”, interrelacionando diferentes disciplinas profesionales, como por ejemplo la ingeniería, el arte y el diseño.

Application of solar energy to seawater desalination in a pilot system based on vacuum multi-effect membrane distillation

The evaluation of a novel solar seawater desalination system implemented at the University of Almeria (Spain) is presented. It integrates a solar thermal field based on static collectors and a thermal desalination system based on the vacuum multi-effect membrane distillation technology. The distillation unit has a particular innovation to increase its thermal performance, using a seawater flow to condense the steam and preheat the feed. Experiments were made under different environmental conditions to assess the role of the thermal storage system for minimizing the effect of disturbances in solar radiation. Thermal energy could be delivered at a stable temperature to the distillation module, even with variable solar radiation. A simulation analysis based on a quasi-dynamic model was also performed to evaluate the distillate production profile and the operating time during a typical year considering different temperature setpoints at the inlet of the membrane module (60, 70, and 80 °C). The simulated volume of distilled water generated annually ranged from 41.7 to 70.5 m3, depending on the setpoint. The membrane distillation unit produced water almost uniformly along the year, with an average flux of (5.5 ± 1) l h−1 m−2 at the maximum setpoint, which was proved the most favourable.