Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a solution-focused intervention in child protection services

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the impact on child welfare of introducing solution-focused principles and intervention techniques in the local child protection service of the island of Tenerife, Spain. 152 workers from 34 local child protection teams participated in the study. Goal achievement, parent's and children’s self-reported well-being, and statutory child welfare measures were recorded during one year. Then the child protection teams were randomly assigned to a control or an experimental condition. 73 workers in the experimental condition, serving 271 families, received 30 h of training and 30 h of supervision in solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT). 79 workers in the control condition, serving 206 families, continued to intervene as usual. The dependent variables were evaluated again in the experimental and in the control group one year after the supervision in SFBT had finished. Results indicate that the experimental and the control group had equivalent outcomes at pre-test. At post-test, the experimental group achieved better outcomes than the control group: workers’ and parents’ goal achievement ratings as well as parents’ and children well-being ratings were higher, fewer cases had been referred to risk teams, fewer children had been removed from their homes and recidivism was lower. The effects were small for goal achievement, medium for recidivism, and large for well-being and child removal. The teams that used SFBT reached these outcomes with fewer sessions and allocating fewer additional resources than the control group.This study was partially supported by a grant of the European Brief Therapy Association (EBTA) and by a grant of the Spanish Federation of Family Therapy Associations (FEATF). Open access funding provided by Universidad Pública de Navarr

Distribuição dos intervalos do piscar espontâneo em medidas repetidas com e sem anestesia tópica ocular

PURPOSE: To determine if the distribution of inter-blink time intervals is constant with repeated measurements with and without topical ocular anesthesia. METHODS: Inter-blink time was measured in 15 normal subjects ranging from 19 to 32 years (mean ± SD= 23.9 ± 3.20) with the magnetic search coil technique on 3 different occasions, the last one with topical ocular anesthesia. RESULTS: One-way analysis of variance for repeated measurements showed that topical anesthesia significantly reduced the blink rate (blinks per minute), which was constant in the first two measurements (F=8.27, p=0.0015. First measurement: mean ± SD= 13.7 ± 7.8; second measurement: 13.1 ± 8.5 SD; with topical anesthesia: = 7.2 ± 4.6). However, distributions shape was not affected when the blink rate was reduced. The three distributions followed a Log Normal pattern, which means that the time interval between blinks was symmetrical when the time logarithm was considered. CONCLUSIONS: Topical ocular anesthesia reduces the rate of spontaneous blinking, but does not change the distribution of inter-blink time interval.OBJETIVOS: Determinar se a distribuição dos intervalos do piscar espontâneo se mantém em medidas repetidas com e sem anesthesia tópica ocular. MÉTODOS: Os intervalos entre movimentos de piscar da pálpebra superior foram medidos com rastreamento magnético (Magnetic Search Coil) em 15 sujeitos (11 do sexo masculino) normais com idades entre 19 a 32 anos (média 23,86 ± 3,20 dp anos). RESULTADOS: Análise de variância unifatorial para medidas repetidas mostrou que a anesthesia tópica ocular diminuiu significativamente a frequência média (número de blinks/minuto) do piscar espontâneo, a qual se manteve constante nas duas primeiras medidas (F=8,27, p=0,0015. Primeira medida 13,7 ± 7,8 DP; segunda medida 13,1 ± 8,5; com anestesia tópica 7,2 ± 4,6). No entanto, a forma da distribuição nas 3 medidas obedeceu uma distribuição do tipo Log Normal, de modo que os intervalos de piscar foram normalmente distribuídos quando o logaritmo do intervalo foi considerado. CONCLUSÕES: A anesthesia tópica ocular diminui significativamente a frequência de piscar, mas não altera a distribuição dos intervalos do piscar espontâneo

The worlds of labour on maritime routes of freedom

Dossier presentation "The worlds of labour on maritime routes of freedom"

Surgical treatment of globe subluxation in the active phase of the myogenic type of Graves orbitopathy: case reports

The purpose of the present article is to present and discuss two cases of globe subluxation in the active phase of myogenic Graves' orbitopathy and to evaluate the prevalence of this phenomenon. Two patients with the myogenic variant of Graves' orbitopathy that had being treated with oral and intravenous steroid pulses developed globe subluxation. Both had to have urgent eyelid and orbital decompression. After these observations, we reviewed the medical records of a sample of 284 patients (482 orbits) who had had orbital decompression at our Institution from 1992 to 2010, with a search for cases presenting severe proptosis or globe subluxation in the active phase of myogenic Graves' orbitopathy. No patient had to have decompression for globe subluxation in the active phase of Graves' orbitopathy. The prevalence of this event as an indication for surgery in the myogenic variant of Graves' orbitopathy was therefore 0.7% (2/284) or even less. The combination of lowering the upper eyelid and orbital decompression had a dramatic therapeutic effect on these patients despite the presence of intense inflammatory signs in the orbits. In conclusion, patients affected with the myogenic variant of Graves' orbitopathy may develop globe subluxation. Urgent surgical treatments should not be postponed despite the presence of active inflammation

Aportes para la utilización de analogías en la enseñanza de las ciencias. Ejemplos en biología del desarrollo

La biología del desarrollo abarca problemas centrales de las ciencias naturales contemporáneas e impacta en muchos ámbitos generando debates bioéticos. Por tal motivo se requiere el trabajo en las aulas con contenidos básicos de biología del desarrollo, a fin de brindar a los estudiantes la posibilidad de comprender los procesos de la embriogénesis y la incidencia de la tecnología sobre ellos. Una de las estrategias que pueden emplearse para enseñar los contenidos es el trabajo con analogías. En esta publicación se presentan algunas de las estrategias de basadas en el uso de analogías y se ejemplifican las mismas en la enseñanza de la biología del desarrollo. Con frecuencia, tanto los docentes como los autores de libros de texto utilizan analogías para explicar conceptos científicos y facilitar el proceso de aprendizaje de nuevos conceptos de una manera comprensible para los alumnos. Sin embargo, el empleo de las analogías suele ser asistemático. Esto puede conducir a los estudiantes a la percepción de las analogías como el centro de lo que deben aprender y no como una herramienta para la comprensión

Mechanical Power in Endurance Running: A Scoping Review on Sensors for Power Output Estimation during Running

Mechanical power may act as a key indicator for physiological and mechanical changes during running. In this scoping review, we examine the current evidences about the use of power output (PW) during endurance running and the di erent commercially available wearable sensors to assess PW. The Boolean phrases endurance OR submaximal NOT sprint AND running OR runner AND power OR power meter, were searched in PubMed, MEDLINE, and SCOPUS. Nineteen studies were finally selected for analysis. The current evidence about critical power and both power-time and power-duration relationships in running allow to provide coaches and practitioners a new promising setting for PW quantification with the use of wearable sensors. Some studies have assessed the validity and reliability of di erent available wearables for both kinematics parameters and PW when running but running power meters need further research before a definitive conclusion regarding its validity and reliability

Is There a Relationship between the Morphology of Connective Tissue and Reactivity during a Drop Jump? Influence of Sex and Athletic Performance Level

The influence of the morphologic characteristics of connective tissue, which plays an essential role during sports activities, on sporting tasks needs further research given the controversial findings reported in the literature. This study aimed at examining the relationship between lower limb connective tissue morphology and drop jump reactivity and determining the influence of sex and athletic performance level. A total of 30 men and 14 women, runners, executed 6 drop jumps (3 20 cm and 30 cm height respectively) and their thickness and cross-sectional area were recorded for Achilles and patellar tendons and plantar fascia. No significant results were found in the relationship between the morphology of the connective tissue and reactivity strength index for both sexes. Significant sex differences were found, while women showed greater values (p < 0.005) for Achilles tendon and plantar fascia; men showed greater values for reactivity strength index and drop jump performance (p < 0.001). The present study shows a limited relationship between connective tissue morphology and drop jump reactivity. Additionally, women showed greater normalized values for Achilles tendon and plantar fascia, and men showed greater reactivity strength index and jumping performance values. No relationships between athletic performance level and connective tissue were found

Percepción del contexto de enseñanza por docentes de primer año de ciencias veterinarias de la Universidad Nacional del Litoral, R. Argentina

The conceptions of teaching and learning are related to the perception that teachers have of the context in which the educational process takes place. The objective of this work was to characterize the perception of the teaching context of the teachers of the first year of the Veterinary Medicine degree in the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences of the Universidad Nacional del Litoral, R. Argentina. To do this, a sample made up of 18 teachers was interviewed using a semi-structured instrument. The sample was non-probabilistic, prioritizing the representativeness of all disciplines, regardless of the teaching category and time commitment. Of the five dimensions of the teaching context, this study addressed those corresponding to the degree of control or flexibility they have over what they teach, the number of students per course to achieve an interaction that they perceive as adequate, the support given by the institution to the teaching activity, and the workload allocated to academic work as teachers' perception of a balanced balance against other tasks. All the teachers affirmed that they have the freedom to organize their teaching and agreed that the number of students taking the first year subjects is very high. Most of the interviewees highlighted as a key factor in their work context, before and during the pandemic, the accompaniment of their colleagues and interdisciplinary work. They considered the institutional accompaniment adequate and proposed improvement strategies.Las concepciones de la enseñanza y del aprendizaje se relacionan con la percepción que los docentes poseen del contexto en el cual se concreta el proceso educativo. El objetivo de este trabajo fue caracterizar la percepción del contexto de enseñanza de los docentes del primer año de la carrera de Medicina Veterinaria en la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias de la Universidad Nacional del Litoral, R. Argentina. Para ello, se entrevistó mediante un instrumento semiestructurado, a una muestra conformada por 18 docentes. La muestra fue no probabilística, priorizando la representatividad de todas las disciplinas, con independencia de la categoría docente y dedicación horaria. De las cinco dimensiones del contexto de enseñanza, en este trabajo se abordaron las correspondientes al grado de control o la flexibilidad de que disponen sobre lo que enseñan, el número de estudiantes por curso para lograr una interacción que percibieran como adecuada, el apoyo dado por la institución a la actividad de docencia, y la carga horaria destinada al trabajo académico como percepción de los docentes de un balance equilibrado frente a otras tareas. La totalidad de los docentes afirmaron que disponen de libertad para organizar su enseñanza y coincidieron en señalar que el número de estudiantes que cursan las asignaturas del primer año es muy elevado. La mayoría de los entrevistados destacaron como un factor clave en su contexto de trabajo, antes y durante la pandemia, al acompañamiento de sus colegas y el trabajo interdisciplinario. Consideraron como adecuado el acompañamiento institucional y propusieron estrategias de mejora

The tyrosine kinase FER is responsible for the capacitation-associated increase in tyrosine phosphorylation in murine sperm

Sperm capacitation is required for fertilization. At the molecular level, this process is associated with fast activation of protein kinase A. Downstream of this event, capacitating conditions lead to an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. The identity of the tyrosine kinase(s) mediating this process has not been conclusively demonstrated. Recent experiments using stallion and human sperm have suggested a role for PYK2 based on the use of small molecule inhibitors directed against this kinase. However, crucially, loss-of-function experiments have not been reported. Here, we used both pharmacological inhibitors and genetically modified mice models to investigate the identity of the tyrosine kinase(s) mediating the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation in mouse sperm. Similar to stallion and human, PF431396 blocks the capacitation-associated increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. Yet, sperm from Pyk2(-/-) mice displayed a normal increase in tyrosine phosphorylation, implying that PYK2 is not responsible for this phosphorylation process. Here, we show that PF431396 can also inhibit FER, a tyrosine kinase known to be present in sperm. Sperm from mice targeted with a kinase-inactivating mutation in Fer failed to undergo capacitation-associated increases in tyrosine phosphorylation. Although these mice are fertile, their sperm displayed a reduced ability to fertilize metaphase II-arrested eggs in vitro.Fil: Alvau, Antonio. University of Massachussets; Estados UnidosFil: Battistone, Maria Agustina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Gervasi, Maria Gracia. University of Massachussets; Estados UnidosFil: Navarrete, Felipe A.. University of Massachussets; Estados UnidosFil: Xu, Xinran. State University of Colorado - Fort Collins; Estados UnidosFil: Sánchez Cárdenas, Claudia. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Instituto de Biotecnología; MéxicoFil: De la Vega Beltran, José Luis. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Instituto de Biotecnología; MéxicoFil: Da Ros, Vanina Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Greer, Peter. Queens University; CanadáFil: Darszon, Alberto. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Instituto de Biotecnología; MéxicoFil: Krapf, Diego. State University of Colorado - Fort Collins; Estados UnidosFil: Salicioni, Ana María. University of Massachussets; Estados UnidosFil: Cuasnicu, Patricia Sara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Visconti, Pablo E.. University of Massachussets; Estados Unido