Jonás Samuel Pérez-Blanco

Monitoring and feedback of learning processes in virtual worlds through analytics architectures: A real case

The application of techniques related to Learning Analytics, including the recovery and processing of data and evidences related with the learning tasks, might result capital to improve educational processes that occurs within the virtual worlds. This paper aims to show a real example of application of a learning analytics framework which supports a real case of practical learning in a 3D virtual environment, analyzing in depth the problems that arises there from. As remarkable outcomes, this paper shows a whole system that comprises several tools, which make possible the automatization of a learning process inside a virtual world with the subject of quality assurance in pharmacy laboratories.

Usalpharma: a cloud-based architecture to support quality assurance training processes in health area using virtual worlds.

This paper discusses how cloud-based architectures can extend and enhance the functionality of the training environments based on virtual worlds and how, from this cloud perspective, we can provide support to analysis of training processes in the area of health, specifically in the field of training processes in quality assurance for pharmaceutical laboratories, presenting a tool for data retrieval and analysis that allows facing the knowledge discovery in the happenings inside the virtual worlds.

Validation and clinical evaluation of a UHPLC method with fluorescence detector for plasma quantification of doxorubicin and doxorubicinol in haematological patients

A rapid and simple UHPLC-fluorescence detection method for the quantification of doxorubicin and its main metabolite, doxorubicinol, in human plasma has been developed. The method was also validated for its application in therapeutic drug monitoring, a clinical approach used in the optimization of oncologic treatments. Following a single protein precipitation step, chromatographic separation was achieved using a C18 column (50mm×2.10mm, particle size 1.7μm) at 50°C with a mobile phase consisting of water (containing 0.4% triethylamine and 0.4% orthophosphoric acid)/acetonitrile (77:23, v/v). Flow rate was 0.50mL/min and fluorescence detection with an excitation wavelength of 470nm and an emission wavelength of 548nm was used. The method met the specifications of linearity, selectivity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision and stability of the FDA and EMA guidelines for the validation of bioanalytical methods. Linearity for the drug (8-3000ng/mL) and the metabolite (3-150ng/mL) was observed (R(2)>0.992) and the maximum intra-day and inter-day precision coefficients of variation were less than 14% for both. The lower limits of quantification were 8 and 3ng/mL for doxorubicin and doxorubicinol, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the quantify plasma concentrations of doxorubicin and doxorubicinol in 33 patients diagnosed with haematological malignancies in which broad ranges for drug (8.3-2766.0ng/mL) and metabolite (4.8-104.9ng/mL) levels were measured adequately.

Using software architectures to retrieve interaction information in eLearning environments

This research paper presents a software architecture based on services and deployed in a cloud environment that retrieves, analyzes and presents information collected from a closed eLearning environment like the Virtual Worlds. This software architecture is able to gather the user interaction in the digital platform, organize the interaction data and to perform measurements, estimates and basic analysis of the data, in order to give information to the managers and teachers about usage indicators and the resolution degree of the goals that students need to achieve in these scenarios and learning systems. To test this idea, the paper describe the application of the analytics layer of this software architecture on a real case, so it is possible to understand how can help this kind of architectures in the detection of the achievement of the learning goals or in the knowledge discover about users usage within the learning environment.

Scientific Knowledge Transfer Training Through a Virtual World

The aim of this study was to use the virtual world Second Life (SL) to perform a knowledge transfer training to Pharmacy students. The presentation of assignments of different subjects was organized as scientific congress communications. The activities were carried out at the facilities created at the USALPHARMA Island in SL. The content and format of these works, together with their oral presentation and interventions in debates were evaluated. These experiences provided adequate learning results and a high level of student satisfaction. This teaching strategy can foster development of creativity, critical thinking, communication, co-teamwork and digital competence. Likewise, it can facilitate teacher-student relations and relations among the students themselves. It also implies significant savings in time and money, since real facilities and equipment and physical movement of people are not involved. All of this encourages us to recommend this platform to host all kinds of conferences or scientific conferences.