El reconocimiento de los aprendizajes adquiridos por la experiencia previa: un nuevo reto para el sistema universitario

El propósito del Reconocimiento de los Aprendizajes derivados de la Experiencia Previa (RAEP) es hacer visible el abanico de competencias que posee una persona, independientemente del contexto donde la adquisición de éstas tuvo lugar. En este artículo se analiza el papel del reconocimiento del aprendizaje experiencial dentro de una visión amplia de la educación y se presentan sus elementos clave. Se comenta el rol del RAEP en la educación superior, señalando asimismo las oportunidades y desafíos que este tipo de procesos impone a los protagonistas de la enseñanza universitaria

Prediction and Monitoring of Partial Remission in Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes

[EN] The partial remission (PR) phase, a period experienced by most patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) soon after diagnosis, is characterized by low insulin requirements and improved glycemic control. Given the great potential of this phase as a therapeutic window for immunotherapies because of its association with immunoregulatory mechanisms and beta-cell protection, our objective was to find peripheral immunological biomarkers for its better characterization, monitoring, and prediction. The longitudinal follow-up of 17 pediatric patients with new-onset T1D over one year revealed that, during the PR phase, remitter patients show increased percentages of effector memory (EM) T lymphocytes, terminally differentiated EM T lymphocytes, and neutrophils in comparison to non-remitter patients. On the contrary, remitter patients showed lower percentages of naive T lymphocytes, regulatory T cells (T-REG), and dendritic cells (DCs). After a year of follow-up, these patients also presented increased levels of regulatory B cells and transitional T1 B lymphocytes. On the other hand, although none of the analyzed cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, TGF-beta 1, IL-17A, and IL-10) could distinguish or predict remission, IL-17A was increased at T1D diagnosis in comparison to control subjects, and remitter patients tended to maintain lower levels of this cytokine than non-remitters. Therefore, these potential monitoring immunological biomarkers of PR support that this stage is governed by both metabolic and immunological factors and suggest immunoregulatory attempts during this phase. Furthermore, since the percentage of T-REG, monocytes, and DCs, and the total daily insulin dose at diagnosis were found to be predictors of the PR phase, we next created an index-based predictive model comprising those immune cell percentages that could potentially predict remission at T1D onset. Although our preliminary study needs further validation, these candidate biomarkers could be useful for the immunological characterization of the PR phase, the stratification of patients with better disease prognosis, and a more personalized therapeutic management.Funding for this study was provided by the Spanish Government (FIS PI18/00436) co-financed with the European Regional Development funds (FEDER), and by DiabetesCero Foundation. LGM is supported by the Generalitat de Catalunya (PERIS PIF-Salut Grant No. SLT017/20/000049). This work has been supported by positive discussion through Consolidated Research Group #2017 SGR 103, AGAUR, Generalitat de Catalunya

Governing home: assessing a rights-based approach to tackling housing precariousness and inequality in the Barcelona metropolitan region

The right to decent housing is under severe threat. In the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis (GFC), the landscape of housing affordability and accessibility has drastically worsened due to rising commodification and financialisation. Today, precarious housing conditions plague a significant segment of the population, with immigrants, youth, and precarious workers among the most vulnerable. Spain was one of the hardest-hit countries by the GFC. This precipitated a devastating wave of evictions, displacing thousands of families. Barcelona, epitomizing this crisis, witnessed approximately 50,000 evictions between 2007 and 2012. In response, 2015 saw the electoral triumph of "Barcelona en Comú," a civic platform that seized municipal power with the mission of tackling the housing crisis head-on. This policy report examines the evolution of housing precariousness in Barcelona and its metropolitan region. It identifies key measures adopted by the local government to promote the right to decent housing, as well as the main obstacles encountered in this endeavor. Our methodology integrates a policy analysis of the Barcelona Plan for the Right to Housing 2016-2025 with quantitative analysis of data from the Barcelona Metropolitan Survey of Living Conditions (EMCV 2017-2021), comparing the city’s status relative to its metropolitan surroundings. Our findings suggest that despite some progress, such as the expansion of social housing and a reduction in evictions, housing affordability remains a critical issue in Barcelona, particularly for households led by tenants, women, young people, and migrants. These challenges adhere to a metropolitan logic, underscoring the necessity for a coordinated metropolitan strategy. We propose a series of public policy recommendations rooted in academic literature to mitigate housing precariousness and affordability crisis. These include: reconsidering the negative impacts of housing allowances; abolishing pro-homeownership tax incentives; expanding the stock of permanent social housing; and rent controls

El uso de Facebook en asociaciones españolas de enfermedades raras: ¿cómo y para qué lo utilizan?

ResumenObjetivoEstudiar si el uso de Facebook está extendido en el ámbito de las asociaciones de pacientes con enfermedades raras y, en caso afirmativo, con qué fin se está utilizando.MétodoEstudio descriptivo transversal para conocer la existencia, el tipo y los objetivos del uso de Facebook por parte de asociaciones españolas federadas en la Federación Española de Enfermedades Raras. El análisis de los objetivos se realiza sobre la base de un sistema de categorización que ha sido utilizado en el ámbito de enfermedades crónicas y adaptado a las particularidades de las enfermedades raras.ResultadosLas asociaciones están utilizando Facebook para sensibilizar sobre las enfermedades raras en general y sobre la propia en particular, así como para intercambiar contenidos relacionados con el apoyo psicológico, médico y social, la promoción y la difusión de la investigación, y la recaudación de fondos.ConclusionesLa alineación entre los intereses de las asociaciones a través de su presencia en Facebook y los ámbitos de actuación de la estrategia nacional de enfermedades raras permite ser optimistas sobre la viabilidad de utilizar Facebook como espacio de encuentro y trabajo colaborativo.AbstractObjectiveTo study whether the use of Facebook is widespread in the field of patient associations for rare diseases and, if so, the purpose for which the site is being used.MethodA descriptive study was conducted to determine whether associations within the Spanish Federation for Rare Diseases use Facebook and, if so, the type of use and its objectives. The analysis was performed based on a categorization system that has been used in the field of chronic diseases and has been adapted to the specific characteristics of rare diseases.ResultsAssociations use Facebook to raise awareness of rare diseases in general and particularly to share content related to psychological, medical and social support, the promotion and dissemination of research, and fundraising.ConclusionsThe alignment between the interests of associations through their presence on Facebook and policy areas of the national strategy for rare diseases is a reason for optimism about the feasibility of using Facebook as a tool for encounters and collaborative work

The double burden of precariousness: linking housing, employment, and perceived stress - a cross-sectional study

Data de publicació electrónica: 12-05-2022Employment precariousness is widely recognised as a social determinant of health and a chronic stressor. Yet precariousness extends beyond employment, into other aspects of life. Using a multidimensional social pathways approach, this study examines the synergistic effects of employment and housing precariousness on self-perceived stress. This study uses the PRESSED dataset (N = 255) derived from the Barcelona Health Survey, which collects data on stress using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Employment precariousness was operationalized using the Employment Precariousness Scale (EPRES) and a multidimensional indicator of housing precariousness was constructed. Generalized structural equation modelling was used to estimate associations between these indicators and self-perceived stress measured by Perceived Stress Survey (PSS), after accounting for sociodemographic variables. Employment and housing precariousness were positively associated with self-perceived stress (OR = 3.23 ; p = 0.002) (OR = 4.28 ; p = 0.065) respectively. The mediating effect of housing precariousness accounted for 16% of the total effect of employment precariousness on stress after controlling for sociodemographic variables. Furthermore, we find that both precarious conditions were unequally distributed by age, sex educational level, and place of birth in the sample. We conclude that employment and housing precariousness are important chronic stressors and that a social pathway approach is needed.Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities under the research grant Precariedad laboral y estrés: factores sociales con impacto biomédico, ref. CSO2017-89719-R, funded by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), EU. Joan Benach gratefully acknowledges the financial support by ICREA under the ICREA Academia programme