University Of Malaga Research Articles

Current debates on immigration, crime, and penality: An introduction

Special issue editorial. This special issue brings together a selection of the papers presented in the framework of the International Conference ‘Immigration, crime and citizenship in troubled times’, which was held on May 9-10, 2019, at the Law School of the University of Malaga, Spain.

Educating future professionals in perinatal medicine: the attitude of medical and nursing students towards childbirth.

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate what educational needs were being neglected in current perinatal educational program in the University of Malaga. We performed a cross-sectional study using the Students' questionnaire on attitudes towards childbirth (CAVE-st) in a sample of 378 students who were finishing their undergraduate or postgraduate academic perinatal program, including medical and nursing students. The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was 0.895. The mean score of CAVE-st in the sample was 200.34 (DT 21.0). The scores were below the median value in more than 53% of the students, especially in medical students. Female students scored systematically higher in the overall scale and its subscales, even after adjusting for study groups. On the other hand, the students with children scored significantly lower in the subscale that explored their attitudes towards unexpected results. A huge margin for improvement was recognizable in those subscales related with childbirth medicalization, respect to women decisions, and health-care prioritization. Students' attitude towards childbirth need to be improved as a means to improve women's childbirth experience and prevent birth-related trauma. The current undergraduate and postgraduate training in perinatal care lacks a comprehensive and biopsychosocial perspective that would improve the quality of clinical practice during childbirth.

Linking spaces, linking people

El proyecto Linking spaces, linking people es una serie de acciones / intervenciones que se plantean como estrategia de branding de la marca LINK by UMA-Atech en el campus universitario de la Universidad de Málaga. Estrategia compuesta de diferentes intervenciones que consisten en instalaciones artísticas por el campus mediante un lenguaje propio de las prácticas artísticas contemporáneas, logrando así una combinación en la estrategia de comunicación –acorde con la filosofía disruptiva– de la marca objeto de este estudio: LINK by UMA-Atech, una marca de la Universidad de Málaga. LINK by UMA-Atech es la marca de un servicio dedicado exclusivamente al impulso del emprendimiento y la innovación abierta, y cuyo hub constituye un ecosistema singularmente diferenciado de la su marca matriz (i.e. marca institucional de la UMA). Nuestro objetivo es analizar este caso, dentro de su arquitectura de marcas, en comparación con el caso de la marca Wayra, como referente de emprendimiento e innovación abierta e inscrita en la corporación Telefónica. y así plantear una metodología de implosión y explosión de la identidad de marca mediante una estrategia de explosión que se ve reflejada en la estrategia que generó como resultado Linking Spaces, linking people. Además, mediante este artículo identificamos nexos de unión a través del branding art y la necesidad de construir una tipología de arquitectura de marcas para la Universidad de Málaga que le permita optimizar y gestionar de forma diferencial su identidad y todo su sistema de marcas.

Malacitana® y Malacitana Sans®: Las nuevas tipografías de la Universidad de Málaga

Este artículo analiza el contexto y el proceso de diseño del sistema tipográfico hecho a medida para la Universidad de Málaga: Malacitana®. “Malacitana®” y “Malacitana Sans®” componen un sistema tipográfico multilenguaje abierto, pensado para reforzar, en su uso, el sentimiento de pertenencia de la comunidad universitaria. “Malacitana” es el resultado de un proceso de investigación que parte del convencimiento del valor estratégico de sistema tipográfico propio como vehículo para dotar de un estilo característico el flujo de información y conocimiento que genera, y canaliza, una institución en la cultura como es la Universidad de Málaga.
 En este artículo, además, se detallan los rasgos estilísticos que caracterizan este proyecto tipográfico en el contexto de proyectos similares. "Malacitana®" es un tipo de letra con remates (slab-serif) diseñada sobre una estructura humanista. Malacitana Sans® es una tipografia lineal humanista (según la clasificación de VOX ATypI). Estas tipografías ofrecen un set de caracteres ampliado y una amplia cobertura lingüística (Latin Pro, Ext-A, Ext-B) que garantiza su aplicación en diferentes contextos de uso.

Measuring stress in podiatric students in Spain: psychometric validation and adaptation of the KEZKAK questionnaire.

ObjectiveThe study aim was to develop a linguistic-cultural adaptation of the KEZKAK questionnaire to be completed during the practicum of podiatric medical students in Spain, to validate the questionnaire and to evaluate its psychometric properties.MethodsThe cross-sectional study was carried out in two stages: 1. Cross-cultural adaptation; 2. Clinimetric validation based on assessments of interobserver reliability, test-retest reliability and internal consistency. The participants were podiatric medical students at the universities of Malaga and Miguel Hernandez, Alicante (Spain) and were recruited during the period February–October 2019. The following inclusion criteria were applied: aged at least 18 years, studying the third or fourth year of a university degree in Podiatry. All gave signed informed consent and completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Podiatry version of the KEZKAK questionnaire. No sampling was performed and thus the entire eligible population was included in the study.ResultsThe analysis was based on 205 participants (33.5% male, 66.5% female), with a mean age of 23.05 (SD 5.37) years. Internal consistency was excellent, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.95. This version of the questionnaire had five factorial structures (61.18%). No floor/ceiling effect was observed in any item. The KEZKAK presented high test-retest reliability after 21 days, with an overall ICC of 0.95 (95% CI [0.93–0.98]).ConclusionFor university students of podiatry in Spain, the KEZKAK Podiatry version questionnaire is a valid, reliable instrument for measuring stressors during the practicum.

Influence of Mothers' Habits on Reading Skills and Emotional Intelligence of University Students: Relationships in the Social and Educational Context.

Numerous studies show that the family plays a crucial role not only in the education of children but also in the acquisition of skills in the process of teaching and formal learning, especially in their reading competence. Furthermore, within the family, studies point to the basic role of the mother as the main axis of both educational and social teaching. The approach of this research aims to analyze whether maternal habits can influence the reading competence of their children. On the other hand, numerous studies point to the relationship between reading skills and emotional intelligence. Its inclusion in the equation of this construct can give information that will nuance the learning process in this evolutionary process. Thus, in this research, the objective is to establish the existence of a relationship between maternal reading habits with respect to reading competence and emotional intelligence in post-adolescents. Four-hundred-twenty first-year university students participated between the ages of 18 and 20 (43.8% men and 56.2% women) from the Andalusian universities of Granada, Malaga, and Jaen, all of them located in areas of medium socio-cultural context. Moderate mediation and factorial ANCOVA analyses have been carried out. The results point to the fact that the profile of the post-adolescents with the best score in reading competence also scores better in emotional intelligence and their mothers are those who score highest in reading habits. Thus, the role of the mother within the family is even more important than it appears in a society that seeks parity. New forms of work–family conciliation are necessary in order not to break the mother–child bond.

Glial cells derived from pluripotent stem cells as a suitable tool for modeling Alzheimer’s disease

AbstractBackgroundAlzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by presenting a complex pathology, not fully resolved yet. This fact, together with the lack of reliable models, has impeded the development of effective therapies. Recently, several studies have shown that functional glial cell defects have a key role in the pathology of AD. However, this glial dysfunction, currently, cannot be correctly modeled using the available animal models, so we hypothesized that cells derived from Alzheimer's patients can serve as a better platform for studying the disease. In this sense, human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) allow the generation of different types of neural cells, which can be used for disease modeling, identification of new targets and drugs development.MethodWe have a collection of hiPSCs derived from patients with sporadic forms of AD. We have differentiated these cells towards neural lineage to obtain neurons and astrocytes. For the generation of oligodendrocytes (OLs), we have developed a fast and robust protocol to generate mature OLs in just 22 days.ResultWe have generated neural precursors from all the lines tested. In the case of OLs, the cells generated resemble primary OLs and can myelinate neurons in vivo and in vitro using a screening compatible platform. This platform is being transferred for the generation of the other glial cells.ConclusionThis methodology can be used to elucidate the pathogenic pathways associated with neurodegeneration and to identify new therapeutic targets susceptible to modulation, contributing to the development of new effective drugs against AD. Acknowledgments: J.A.G.L has been supported by a contract of doctor reincorporation plan from the I Plan Propio of the University of Malaga (Spain) and by CIBERNED. The work was supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCiii) of Spain, co‐financed by FEDER funds from European Union (grant PI18/01557 to A.G., grant P18/1556 to JV), by Junta de Andalucia co‐financed by FEDER funds grant UMA18‐FEDERJA‐211 (to AG), by Consejeria de Salud of Junta de Andalucia (grant PI‐0276‐2018 to J.A.G.L.) and by CIBERNED.

Las perspectivas de estudiantes universitarios sobre el Big Data y su papel en el sistema educativo

Hablar hoy de Big Data en educación es subrayar todas las potencialidades del manejo masivo de datos para la mejora de la calidad educativa, aunque de forma algo tardía. En este artículo se ofrecen los resultados más relevantes de un estudio realizado en un contexto universitario con estudiantes de la Universidad de Málaga. El objetivo del estudio ha sido conocer y comprender las percepciones, opiniones, conocimientos y actitudes relacionadas con el Big Data en el sistema educativo en una muestra de 104 estudiantes. La muestra del estudio fue no probabilística de carácter incidental. Para ello, se llevó a cabo un estudio de encuesta, utilizando la escala VABIDAE para recoger los datos. Se hizo un estudio psicométrico de la escala con los datos recogidos, así como un análisis estadístico descriptivo. Los resultados indican que los estudiantes tienen bastante desconocimiento sobre el Big Data y sus usos que se le puede dar en el campo educativo, aunque con una percepción positiva sobre su posible impacto. Ahora bien, se muestran críticos con los beneficios y perjuicios que puede llegar a tener en la calidad educativa.

Smart Solar Micro-exchangers for Sustainable Mobility of University Camps

A significant number of universities have several campuses located in urban or rural settings, or with scattered university buildings that require the use of means of transportation. This implies the mobility and potential displacement of a large community of students, professors and researchers. The use of electric bicycles (e-bikes) is an intermediate alternative between the bicycle and electric cars. It can be an important stimulus for the promotion of the decarbonisation of the University Campus, avoiding the traffic congestion and reducing space requirements for parking. This paper presents the smart solar micro-exchanger model managed through a sustainable mobility web platform, applied to the case study of the University of Malaga (Spain). It is a solar charging station for e-bike, whose design is based on the principles of solar architecture (providing great security to e-bike). It managed by a web platform and app that allows the user to make reservations and learn about the savings in CO2 emissions. The system allows performing an aerobic sports activity without sweating problems when you reach the job. The platform also incorporates a database of quiet and safe routes for e-bike users.

A favor da autobiografia

A proposta de organização deste dossiê surgiu do encontro de três pesquisadores que vivenciam momentos distintos em suas trajetórias acadêmicas, mas que se encontram numa mesma clareira em relação aos estudos sobre “autobiografias, memórias, diários, autoficções, romances autobiográficos, testemunhos, histórias de vida e biografias”: Manuel Alberca, professor da Universidade de Málaga e professor visitante nas universidade de Universidade de Toulouse II-Le Mirail, París XIII e Tours (França), Berna (Suíça), Universidade Livre de Bruxelas e Passau (Alemanha); Ana Cristina Marinho, professora da Universidade Federal da Paraíba e Silvia Maria Fernandes Costa, doutoranda do Programa de Pós-graduação em Letras da Universidade Federal da Paraíba.

Sostenibilidad Curricular: Una Mirada desde las Aportaciones del Profesorado de la Universidad de Málaga

El propósito de este estudio ha sido conocer las percepciones y competencias de los profesionales de la educación de la Universidad de Málaga en la puesta en práctica de la Educación para el Desarrollo Sostenible. Siguiendo una metodología cualitativa, se han diseñado entrevistas semiestructuradas ad hoc fundamentadas en un paradigma interpretativo. La muestra ha estado constituida por docentes del Grado en Educación Primaria y Educación Social de la Universidad de Málaga. Las cuestiones abordadas han permitido valorar en qué medida el profesorado ha integrado el discurso de la sostenibilidad en su rol profesional, junto a las relaciones establecidas entre la universidad y la necesidad de trabajar una educación comprometida con la mejora y el respeto al entorno. De los resultados se desprenden ciertas dificultades para trabajar sistemáticamente la sostenibilidad, originadas por la carencia de una formación específica, aunque han podido apreciarse actitudes favorables en el profesorado para su integración transversal, bien sea buscando conexiones epistemológicas o enfatizando un mayor protagonismo a la adquisición de competencias prácticas en el proceso de aprendizaje del alumnado. En la misma línea que otros estudios, queda patente la relevancia otorgada al trabajo interdisciplinar, la formación permanente y la investigación

A Modular Experimentation Methodology for 5G Deployments: The 5GENESIS Approach.

The high heterogeneity of 5G use cases requires the extension of the traditional per-component testing procedures provided by certification organizations, in order to devise and incorporate methodologies that cover the testing requirements from vertical applications and services. In this paper, we introduce an experimentation methodology that is defined in the context of the 5GENESIS project, which aims at enabling both the testing of network components and validation of E2E KPIs. The most important contributions of this methodology are its modularity and flexibility, as well as the open-source software that was developed for its application, which enable lightweight adoption of the methodology in any 5G testbed. We also demonstrate how the methodology can be used, by executing and analyzing different experiments in a 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) deployment at the University of Malaga. The key findings of the paper are an initial 5G performance assessment and KPI analysis and the detection of under-performance issues at the application level. Those findings highlight the need for reliable testing and validation procedures towards a fair benchmarking of generic 5G services and applications.

Higher Education Students’ Assessments towards Gamification and Sustainability: A Case Study

Some academics are pushing for teaching staff to implement didactical practices to obtain sustainable behavior. Moreover, a fundamental element of gamification in all educational stages is the noteworthy effect it has on student motivation. In our study, we examined higher education students’ assessments in the University of Malaga on the design of educational gamification and the teaching criteria that relate to gamification, and its effect on student’s motivation, the applications of gamification, and the attitude towards sustainability. A questionnaire was administered to students studying for degrees in education from the University of Malaga. A total of 187 valid surveys were obtained. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was computed for these data based on an exploratory–confirmatory model and using SmartPLS version 3.3.2. A positive relationship between assessment of students’ motivation and sustainability attitude was found. We found that the opinions of the students about the role of their training and teaching design material in education would affect students’ motivation and the sustainability behavior, although the power of this last construct is moderate.

Narrativas en la formación Superior. Experiencias en el marco de un Proyecto de Innovación Educativa

Presentamos una experiencia de innovación educativa interuniversitaria e interdisciplinar, que en el marco de un Proyecto de Innovación Educativa se ha desarrollado durante los cursos 2017/18 y 2018/19 en las universidades de Málaga, Cantabria, País Vasco, Extremadura y Cádiz. A través de catorce relatos docentes nos acercamos al modo particular en el que el profesorado ha abordado el trabajo con las narrativas escritas, orales y/o visuales de su alumnado. Los relatos nos muestran diferentes modos de trabajar con narrativas en el aula y de desarrollar procesos dialógicos y transformadores que promuevan la construcción, re-construcción y de-construcción de aprendizajes vinculados con las experiencias de los estudiantes y con el currículum de sus asignaturas. La pedagogía narrativa se posiciona como una estrategia formativa capaz de aunar el pasado, el presente y el futuro en los discursos colectivos del alumnado.

Use of Data Mining to Determine Usage Patterns of an Online Evaluation Platform During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

MenPas is a psychosocial assessment platform1 developed by the University of Malaga in 2008. There has been a significant increase in data traffic during the period of confinement by COVID-19 (March and April ’20) compared to the same period in the previous year. The main goal to achieve in this work is to determine the patterns of use of this platform on both period of time. So, we want to respond to the following question: So, we the following question: Has the COVID-19 Pandemic changed the pattern of the Menpas users? In order to respond it, cluster analysis techniques (Data Mining) have been used to classify people taking surveys into quotient sets (cluster). This is a multivariate technique for dividing data into sets to that are as homogeneous as possible within themselves and heterogeneous among themselves. Specifically, the K-Means algorithm has been used for this analysis, which is based on the evaluation of the distance between data and the average of each variable. So, it is recommended to discover patterns or relationships among the data. Specifically, the use of the following questionnaires has been analyzed: Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Profile of Mood State (POMS), Resilience Scale (RS), Sport Performance Psychological Inventory (IPED), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Self-concept Form-5 (AF-5). The analyses have shown changes in cluster formation between 2019 and 2020 based on the variables gender, age, marital status or physical practice. Therefore, the analyses carried out have been sensitive to determine several profiles of people using the MenPas platform because there are changes in the characteristics of the user groups that have carried out the analyzed tests.

ELF and teacher education: attitudes and beliefs

AbstractThe growing relevance of research in English as a lingua franca (ELF) for ELT has led to a need to rethink the way we approach English in the language classroom and to reassess how we configure knowledge about language in teacher education. This article reports on a joint project initiated in 2017 at King’s College London (UK) and the University of Malaga (Spain), exploring the value of perceptions towards language and ELF among language teachers. Our goal was to promote reflective attitudes towards linguistic diversity, language change and the potential impact of ELF on developments in ELT. We present here the results of an online survey that participants took after only two sessions into their training. Our findings link ELT practitioners’ teaching priorities to an ELF orientation because there was a higher number of participants who aligned with statements about pedagogic approaches where successful communication is emphasized above accuracy (42/72), and statements that favour fostering experimentation with linguistic forms (53/72) and promoting students’ L1 sociocultural identity (54/72).

Learning and collaboration in pre-service teacher education: Narrative analysis in a service learning experience at Andalusian public schools

In this article we take up the task of presenting and analyzing a Service Learning experience developed in a class of the major in Primary Education Teaching at the University of Malaga, in Andalusia, Spain. It consists of a narrative analysis of autobiographical texts –final reports and online interviews – produced by pre-service teachers. We aimed to understand how participants learned about the teaching profession throughout their trajectory in the project. The results indicate pre-service teachers (1) learn by feeling, (2) learn by belonging, (3) learn by placing action in a social perspective, and (4) learn by sharing experiences with others.

Perceptions of Professors of Educational Inclusion: Diversity, Cooperation and Commitment

Educational inclusion represents a commitment to attend to diversity, based on accessible curricular structures able to respond to the needs of an increasingly diverse student body. In the Campaign Education to transform lives, promoted by Unesco, in addition to approving the 2030 Agenda, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals were specified, claiming the need for education systems to move towards inclusive education capable of eradicating discriminatory situations of distress and social injustice. Within the university, this challenge involves the formation of student-focused learning spaces, as shown by the results of several investigations, which recognize the commitment with the educational inclusion that the current university must assume. The purpose of this study has been to identify and understand the perceptions of education professionals at the University of Malaga in the implementation of the education committed to inclusion. Following a qualitative methodology, teachers from the Primary Education and Social Education Grades have participated, collecting information from semi-structured ad hoc interviews. The main contributions of this research in its field of study show that teachers have some difficulties in addressing educational inclusion, as they lack specific training. In addition to this, the professional sector considers itself responsible for offering a response to diversity, opting for innovative methodologies that help to overcome the barriers that prevent the increase of knowledge and that commit to promote shared learning experiences.

Editorial introductions

Editorial introductions

Analysis of adaptive multi-rate FSO/RF hybrid systems using Málaga-ℳ distribution model in turbulent channels

Precise modeling of the optical channels with different conditions of atmospheric turbulence is an important prerequisite for analyzing the performance of Free Space Optical (FSO) communication systems. Statistical models which have been proposed to describe the optical channels, have some limitations to precisely model the channel. In this paper, The ℳ distribution which is a relatively new and comprehensive model, introduced by the University of Malaga, has been used to model and evaluate FSO/RF hybrid systems under the effect of atmospheric turbulence of the channels for two modes of operation, classic adaptive rate transmission, and the combination of adaptive rate transmission and automatic repeat request.The simulation results have been compared with the experimental results which have been reported by other researchers. It seems, using ℳ distribution model, yields more consistency between design objectives and implementation results.