Undergraduate research in medical education: a descriptive study of students' views

Background: Medical students engage in curricular and extracurricular activities, including undergraduate research (UR). The advantages, difficulties and motivations for medical students pursuing research activities during their studies have rarely been addressed. In Brazil, some medical schools have included undergraduate research into their curriculum. The present study aimed to understand the reality of scientific practice among medical students at a well-established Brazilian medical school, analyzing this context from the students' viewpoint.Methods: A cross-sectional survey based on a questionnaire applied to students from years one to six enrolled in an established Brazilian medical school that currently has no curricular UR program.Results: The questionnaire was answered by 415 students, 47.2% of whom were involved in research activities, with greater participation in UR in the second half of the course. Independent of student involvement in research activities, time constraints were cited as the main obstacle to participation. Among students not involved in UR, 91.1% said they favored its inclusion in the curriculum, since this would facilitate the development of such activity. This approach could signify an approximation between the axes of teaching and research. Among students who had completed at least one UR project, 87.7% said they would recommend the activity to students entering the course.Conclusion: Even without an undergraduate research program, students of this medical school report strong involvement in research activities, but discussion of the difficulties inherent in its practice is important to future developments.

Interindividual variations in fruit preferences of the yellow-shouldered bat Sturnira lilium (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in a cafeteria experiment

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Controle de velocidade de um motor de indução trifásico usando técnicas de ajuste empírico para bancada de teste no laboratório de automação

This work aims to make the closed loop control of a three phase induction motor, through the integration of the following equipment: a frequency inverter, the actuator system; a programmable logic controller (PLC), the controller; an encoder, the velocity sensor, used as a feedback monitoring the control variable and the three-phase induction motor, the plant to be controlled. The control is performed using a Proportional - Integrative - Derivative (PID) approach. The PLC has a help instruction, which performs the auto adjustment of the controller, that instruction is used and confronted with other adjustment methods. There are several types of methods adjustments to the PID controllers, where the empirical methods are addressed in this work. The system is deployed at the Interface and Electro Electronic Control laboratory in the Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio Mesquita Filho, Guaratinguetá, São Paulo, then, in the future, this work becomes an experiment to be conducted in the classroom, allowing undergraduate students to develop a greater affinity to the programs used by the PLC as well as studies of undergraduate and graduate works with the help of assembly made

Apoio à gerência de requisitos de software utilizando Design Rationale

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Working with undergraduate students of Translation with a genre-based approach

Research articles in national and international journals provide abstracts usually written in English. This paper discusses the importance of working with this sub-genre with future researchers and translators during their university years. Two concepts of genre are presented (SWALES, 1990; BATHIA, 1993), as well as an approach on how to introduce academic genre to undergraduate students. After applying this approach to a mini-course about academic writing, we have noted that translation students have been more attentive to the way they deal with texts based on communicative purposes, tasks, target readers and language.

Self-perception, complaints and vocal quality among undergraduate students enrolled in a Pedagogy course

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Pharmacology and biochemistry undergraduate students'concern for a healthy diet and nutrition knowledge

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

A virtual experiment for the detection of specific features in the frequency response of a coupled nonlinear and linear oscillator

This paper presents an investigation into some practical issues that may be present in a real experiment, when trying to validate the theoretical frequency response curve of a two degree-of-freedom nonlinear system consisting of coupled linear and nonlinear oscillators. Some specific features, such as detached resonance curves, have been theoretically predicted in multi degree-of-freedom nonlinear oscillators, when subject to harmonic excitation, and the system parameters have been shown to be fundamental in achieving such features. When based on a simplified model, approximate analytical expression for the frequency response curves may be derived, which may be validated by the numerical solutions. In a real experiment, however, the practical achievability of such features was previously shown to be greatly affected by small disturbances induced by gravity and inertia, which led to some solutions becoming unstable which had been predicted to be stable. In this work a practical system configuration is proposed where such effects are reduced so that the previous limitations are overcome. A virtual experiment is carried out where a detailed multi-body model of the oscillator is assembled and the effects on the system response are investigated.

Alguns aspectos da transposição de uma sequencia didática sobre o comportamento de partículas e ondas

This work presents a partial analysis of the implementation of a didactic sequence aimed at undergraduate students of quantum chemistry. The sequence develops on some fundamental concepts to understand the behavior of the objects particles and waves in the doubleslit experiment. The analysis is based on the didactic transposition theory, proposed by Yves Chevallard, which allows reflection upon the scientific knowledge reorganized to be used in teaching contexts. Our interest in this study lays on the dynamics of transposition of knowledge-to-be-taught into knowledge-taught, particularly the importance of making concepts more comprehensible. Results showed that the communication of knowledge by the students is presented with interruptions, gaps and colloquial language. The analysis allowed the identification of needs and possibilities of learning, as well as a turn in the teacher practice, through a dynamic process of action and reflection.

Knowledge of nursing undergraduate students about the use of contact precautions measures

To assess knowledge of nursing undergraduate students about the use of contact precautions. Methodology. There were 106 nursing undergraduate students from three universities within the state of Sao Paulo. The data collection was done between April and May 2012. A questionnaire was elaborated with questions assessing knowledge regarding contact precautions. The data were submitted to statistical procedures in the package MINITAB version 16. The knowledge were rated as adequate, partially adequate and inadequate. Results. There was a predominance of females (86%) and age group between 20 and 29 years (70%). Regarding the definition of contact precaution of diseases in which these measures are used, undergraduate’s knowledge was partially adequate (92% and 44%, respectively). The knowledge was considered adequate for the preventive measures used during assistance (86%). As difficulties mentioned in the use of these measures were discomfort, lack of material, personnel and time. Conclusion. Although undergraduate students know what measures to be used in contact precaution, they do not have adequate knowledge about which diseases they should use them. The three participating universities should reflect on the quality of training for nursing students regarding biosecurity and contact precautions.

Design e inovação em contexto de ensino-aprendizagem

This paper presents part of the results of a post-doctoral research project which is called "Hypermedia Design involved with the User Experience". The discussion will be undertaken in this article assumes that the use of a hypermedia environment facing the field of Design can facilitate the process of teaching and learning in an undergraduate degree in Design. The theme that guides the paper of the following question: if the education and training in design does not allow access, involvement and knowledge of the technologies in its primary base that practitioners and researchers are forming for the near future? For both this study focuses on the use of a digital environment by reporting of an experiment of using hypermedia digital book "Design, Education and Technology" as a teaching tool in undergraduate courses in design, results and notes on issues involving interactivity and user experience. The methodology has a qualitative bias, developed along the lines of exploratory research in the form of a case study, lectures, and workshops for the dynamic observation, a questionnaire and analysis of results were applied

Anxiety and depression in brazilian undergraduate students: the role of sociodemographic variables, undergraduate course characteristics and social skills

The prevalence of anxiety and depression disorders in undergraduate students is high and several variables can be influential. The aim is to verify the predictive value of social skills, sociodemographic variables, and course characteristics for depression and anxiety. A total of 1282 students of a public university, of both sexes and from different years and courses, participated in this study. Screening instruments for depression and anxiety were applied, as well as an instrument investigating social skills and a questionnaire covering socio demographic indicators and course characteristics. The data were analyzed using univariate analysis followed by multiple binary regression analysis in order to define the relevance of these depression and anxiety measures. The rates of anxiety and depression were 19.4% and 3.8%, respectively. The social skills and living situation were predictive of depression, with the social skills and course area (with higher prevalence for the exact and human sciences) remaining in the final model for anxiety. Such data have implications for psychological prevention and intervention with this population.

Percepção e Linguagem: Descrição de Figuras Ambíguas por Alunos Universitários da Área Biológica

Departing from a Merleau-Pontyan concept of linguistic mediation of perception, we ran a cognitive experiment, having the goal of studying how the perception of ambiguous figures is expressed in verbal linguage. Two of the figures mix biological and technological forms, while the third mixes two biological forms. We asked a group of a 120 undergraduate Biology students from State University of São Paulo (UNESP) to write about their perception of three ambiguous figures. We made an analysis of descriptive categories that appeared in the responses and used a qualitative method (Discourse of the Collective Subject) to reconstruct the main features of the linguistic expression of preceptual processes. In conclusion, we found in these.