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The number of one-to-one mobile programs in elementary schools as a resource that substitutes the textbook has become popular in worldwide. However, studies that seek to understand how the daily use of these mobile devices is associated with teaching/learning practices and student's engagement in the classroom are lacking. The authors utilized and adapted a self-system model of motivational development in order to better understand the mechanisms behind the promotion of academic engagement through the use of iPads. For this, an analysis using structural equations was conducted on the data collected from a network of 20 elementary schools and 1977 K-5/6 students in Spain, who used iPads daily in their Language, Mathematics, Science and Second Language subjects. The data showed that the pedagogic method acted as a mediator between iPad use in the classroom and academic engagement, as it satisfied the psychological needs of the students. The study contributes with a comprehensive approach that results in an increase of knowledge on the reasons behind the success of failure of these types of programs on learner engagement.

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Crotamine is a cationic, non-enzymatic, protein integrating a minor family of myotoxins, composed of 42 amino acid residues, described in Viperidae and Crotalidae snake's families that has been used in neuroscience research, drug progressing and molecular diversity reports. Crotamine-like protein (CLP) from C.o.helleri venom was isolated in fraction 5 from 7 peaks obtained by sulfopropyl waters protein pak cationic exchange column. In tricine-SDS-PAGE under non-reduced conditions this CLP showed a single band of ~8 kDa molecular weight. CLP induced toxicity of K-562 cells with a CC of 11.09 µM. In mice adrenal gland after 24 h of CLP injection, cortical cells exhibited swollen mitochondria with scarce tubular cristae, some elements of smooth and rough endoplasmic reticula, widened nuclear envelope, slightly osmiophilic lipid droplets, and autophagic vacuoles. In some areas cortical cells plasma membrane and endothelial walls disappeared, which indicated a necrosis process. In other areas, endothelial cell cytoplasm did not present the normal caveolae and pinocytotic vesicles. To our knowledge, this is the first report on mice adrenal gland damages, caused by the injection of CLP from rattlesnakes. Our results propose that adrenal cortex lesions may be significant in the envenoming etiopathogenesis by CLP.

One of the «black holes» of academic research in Communication is the shallowness of reflections on the classic origins of Communication, its aims and points of entry. In this respect, the study of communicative processes on the Internet becomes particularly relevant (specifically the social networks processes) when observed from the classic rhetorical perspective. We focus on the use of persuasion strategies (ethos, pathos, logos) as well as the abundant use of rhetorical figures. Such parameters, along with the resources that emergent technologies offer, unleash creativity and afford humanist aspects to network communication. These give on-line platforms an extremely persuasive strength. Thus, we may speak of the network user of the 21st century as the new «Rhetorician». Our research on Facebook addresses the presence of rhetoric in online social network communication: the user of these platforms applies communicative strategies described by the Rhetoricians dating back to Greco-Roman antiquity. The methodology in this work (the study of three typified cases and the content analysis of conversations generated on Facebook walls) allows us to intertwine rhetoric and communication today, mediated by the emergence of online networks. We propose the retrieval of certain parameters of deep, critical thought to the benefit of a more human communication. RESUMENUno de los «agujeros negros» de la investigación en comunicación tiene que ver con una carencia de profundización en los orígenes clásicos de nuestros estudios, de sus objetos y de los acercamientos a estos. En este sentido, cobraría especial relevancia el estudio de los procesos comunicativos en Internet (en concreto a través de las redes sociales) bajo el prisma de la Retórica clásica. Especialmente, nos referimos al uso de las estrategias de persuasión (ethos, pathos, logos) así como al abundante uso de figuras retóricas. Tales parámetros unidos a los recursos que ofertan las tec nologías emergentes otorgan una enorme creatividad y aportan aspectos humanistas a la comunicación en red, claves de la fuerza persuasiva que caracteriza a estas plataformas on-line. De esta forma podemos hablar del usuario de redes como el nuevo «rétor» del siglo XXI. Nuestra investigación sobre Facebook aborda la presencia de la ciencia retórica en la comunicación generada en las redes sociales on-line: el usuario de estas plataformas utiliza las estrategias comunicativas descritas por la disciplina retórica desde sus comienzos en la antigüedad grecolatina. La metodología empleada (el estudio de tres casos tipificados y el análisis de contenidos de las conversaciones generadas en los muros de Facebook) nos permite entrelazar la Retórica y nuestro presente comunicativo mediado por la emergencia de las redes. Proponemos así recuperar unos parámetros que devuelvan el pensamiento profundo y crítico en favor de una comunicación más humana.

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The popularization of new interaction spaces brings new narratives and social phenomena that merit attention from the scientific community. Based on the existing literature on the new challenges facing the communication discipline with these emerging narratives, this editorial summarizes the empirical and theoretical contributions of the thematic issue entitled “New Narratives for New Consumers: Influencers and the Millennial and Centennial Generations.” The authors emphasize that the studies selected for this thematic issue explore the innovative features and opportunities of the emerging scenarios and offer a cautionary account of their structural problems and the urgency of a new media literacy.

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