Investigación sobre las ideas de los estudiantes acerca de la Historia

Los educadores deberían sentirse alentados por la consistencia con que la investigación muestra que la juventud participa activamente en el proceso de construcción de significado a partir de sus encuentros con la historia. También deberían sentirse satisfechos de saber que la docencia formal puede tener impacto en el desarrollo de las ideas de los estudiantes. Por otro lado, la investigación demuestra que algunos aspectos del sujeto pueden ser problemáticos: algunos estudiantes pueden tener problemas para reconciliar la historia escolar con las narraciones que han aprendido fuera de la escuela, por ejemplo, y no desarrollan fácilmente comprensiones completas del uso de la evidencia o del impacto de los factores sociales en las acciones y perspectivas de la gente del pasado. La investigación más importante en el futuro, por tanto, debería incluir la identificación de la diversidad de ideas que los estudiantes de orígenes diferentes aportan a la clase, y debería explorar el efecto de las prácticas docentes específicas en la comprensión. Este trabajo no sólo contribuiría a la producción académica sobre las ideas de los estudiantes acerca de la historia, sino que también podría conducir a aplicaciones prácticas en el aula.Educators should be encouraged by the consistency with which research shows that young people actively participate in the process of constructing meaning from their encounters with history. They should also be pleased to know that formal instruction can have an impact on students’ developing ideas. Besides, research proves that some aspects of the subject can be problematic: some students may experience some difficulty in reconciling school History with the narratives they have learnt outside school, for example. Hence, they do not easily develop complete understandings of the use of evidence or the impact of societal factors on the actions and perspectives of people in the past. The most important research in the future, therefore, would involve identifying the diversity of ideas that students from different backgrounds bring to the classroom and exploring the effect of specific instructional practices on their understanding. Such work would not only contribute to academic scholarship on students’ ideas about history but might also lead to practical classroom applications

Functional Folate Receptor Alpha Is Elevated in the Blood of Ovarian Cancer Patients

Background Despite low incidence, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths and it has the highest mortality rate of all gynecologic malignancies among US women. The mortality rate would be reduced with an early detection marker. The folate receptor alpha (FRα) is one logical choice for a biomarker because of its prevalent overexpression in ovarian cancer and its exclusive expression in only a few normal tissues. In prior work, it was observed that patients with ovarian cancer had elevated serum levels of a protein that bound to a FRα-specific monoclonal antibody relative to healthy individuals. However, it was not shown that the protein detected was intact functional FRα. In the current study, the goal was to determine whether ovarian cancer patients (n = 30) had elevated serum levels of a fully functional intact FRα compared to matched healthy controls (n = 30). Methodology/Principal Findings FRα levels in serum were analyzed by two methods, immunoblotting analysis and a radiolabeled folic acid-based microfiltration binding assay. Using the immunoassay, we observed that levels of FRα were higher in serum of ovarian cancer patients as compared to controls. Similar results were also observed using the microfiltration binding assay, which showed that the circulating FRα is functional. Importantly, we also found that the levels of FRα were comparable between early and advanced stage patients. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that ovarian cancer patients have elevated levels of functional intact FRα. These findings support the potential use of circulating FRα as a biomarker of early ovarian cancer

An occupational therapy intervention for residents with stroke related disabilities in UK care homes (OTCH): cluster randomised controlled trial

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of an established programme of occupational therapy in maintaining functional activity and reducing further health risks from inactivity in care home residents living with stroke sequelae. Design Pragmatic, parallel group, cluster randomised controlled trial. Setting 228 care homes (>10 beds each), both with and without the provision of nursing care, local to 11 trial administrative centres across the United Kingdom. Participants 1042 care home residents with a history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack, including those with language and cognitive impairments, not receiving end of life care. 114 homes (n=568 residents, 64% from homes providing nursing care) were allocated to the intervention arm and 114 homes (n=474 residents, 65% from homes providing nursing care) to standard care (control arm). Participating care homes were randomised between May 2010 and March 2012. Intervention Targeted three month programme of occupational therapy, delivered by qualified occupational therapists and assistants, involving patient centred goal setting, education of care home staff, and adaptations to the environment. Main outcome measures Primary outcome at the participant level: scores on the Barthel index of activities of daily living at three months post-randomisation. Secondary outcome measures at the participant level: Barthel index scores at six and 12 months post-randomisation, and scores on the Rivermead mobility index, geriatric depression scale-15, and EuroQol EQ-5D-3L questionnaire, at all time points. Results 64% of the participants were women and 93% were white, with a mean age of 82.9 years. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups for all measures, personal characteristics, and diagnostic tests. Overall, 2538 occupational therapy visits were made to 498 participants in the intervention arm (mean 5.1 visits per participant). No adverse events attributable to the intervention were recorded. 162 (11%) died before the primary outcome time point, and 313 (30%) died over the 12 months of the trial. The primary outcome measure did not differ significantly between the treatment arms. The adjusted mean difference in Barthel index score at three months was 0.19 points higher in the intervention arm (95% confidence interval −0.33 to 0.70, P=0.48). Secondary outcome measures also showed no significant differences at all time points. Conclusions This large phase III study provided no evidence of benefit for the provision of a routine occupational therapy service, including staff training, for care home residents living with stroke related disabilities. The established three month individualised course of occupational therapy targeting stroke related disabilities did not have an impact on measures of functional activity, mobility, mood, or health related quality of life, at all observational time points. Providing and targeting ameliorative care in this clinically complex population requires alternative strategies

Design Specification for a Thrust-Vectoring, Actuated-Nose-Strake Flight Control Law for the High-Alpha Research Vehicle

Specifications for a flight control law are delineated in sufficient detail to support coding the control law in flight software. This control law was designed for implementation and flight test on the High-Alpha Research Vehicle (HARV), which is an F/A-18 aircraft modified to include an experimental multi-axis thrust-vectoring system and actuated nose strakes for enhanced rolling (ANSER). The control law, known as the HARV ANSER Control Law, was designed to utilize a blend of conventional aerodynamic control effectors, thrust vectoring, and actuated nose strakes to provide increased agility and good handling qualities throughout the HARV flight envelope, including angles of attack up to 70 degrees

Postoperative Complications in the Ahmed Baerveldt Comparison Study During Five Years of Follow-up

To compare the late complications in the Ahmed Baerveldt Comparison Study during 5 years of follow-up

Influence of Maternal Lifestyle and Diet on Perinatal DNA Methylation Signatures Associated With Childhood Arterial Stiffness at 8 to 9 Years

Increases in aortic pulse wave velocity, a measure of arterial stiffness, can lead to elevated systolic blood pressure and increased cardiac afterload in adulthood. These changes are detectable in childhood and potentially originate in utero, where an adverse early life environment can alter DNA methylation patterns detectable at birth. Here, analysis of epigenome-wide methylation patterns using umbilical cord blood DNA from 470 participants in the Southampton’s Women’s Survey identified differential methylation patterns associated with systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, arterial distensibility, and descending aorta pulse wave velocity measured by magnetic resonance imaging at 8 to 9 years. Perinatal methylation levels at 16 CpG loci were associated with descending aorta pulse wave velocity, with identified CpG sites enriched in pathways involved in DNA repair (P=9.03×10−11). The most significant association was with cg20793626 methylation (within protein phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+ dependent 1D; β=−0.05 m/s/1% methylation change, [95% CI, −0.09 to −0.02]). Genetic variation was also examined but had a minor influence on these observations. Eight pulse wave velocity-linked dmCpGs were associated with prenatal modifiable risk factors, with cg08509237 methylation (within palmitoyl-protein thioesterase-2) associated with maternal oily fish consumption in early and late pregnancy. Lower oily fish consumption in early pregnancy modified the relationship between methylation and pulse wave velocity, with lower consumption strengthening the association between cg08509237 methylation and increased pulse wave velocity. In conclusion, measurement of perinatal DNA methylation signatures has utility in identifying infants who might benefit from preventive interventions to reduce risk of later cardiovascular disease, and modifiable maternal factors can reduce this risk in the child

Discarded livers tested by normothermic machine perfusion in the VITTAL trial:Secondary end points and 5-year outcomes

Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) enables pretransplant assessment of high-risk donor livers. The VITTAL trial demonstrated that 71% of the currently discarded organs could be transplanted with 100% 90-day patient and graft survivals. Here, we report secondary end points and 5-year outcomes of this prospective, open-label, phase 2 adaptive single-arm study. The patient and graft survivals at 60 months were 82% and 72%, respectively. Four patients lost their graft due to nonanastomotic biliary strictures, one caused by hepatic artery thrombosis in a liver donated following brain death, and 3 in elderly livers donated after circulatory death (DCD), which all clinically manifested within 6 months after transplantation. There were no late graft losses for other reasons. All the 4 patients who died during the study follow-up had functioning grafts. Nonanastomotic biliary strictures developed in donated after circulatory death livers that failed to produce bile with pH &gt;7.65 and bicarbonate levels &gt;25 mmol/L. Histological assessment in these livers revealed high bile duct injury scores characterized by arterial medial necrosis. The quality of life at 6 months significantly improved in all but 4 patients suffering from nonanastomotic biliary strictures. This first report of long-term outcomes of high-risk livers assessed by normothermic machine perfusion demonstrated excellent 5-year survival without adverse effects in all organs functioning beyond 1 year (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT02740608).</p

Altered H19/miR‐675 expression in skeletal muscle is associated with low muscle mass in community‐dwelling older adults

Background: Despite increasing knowledge of the pathogenesis of muscle ageing, the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Based on an expression analysis of muscle biopsies from older Caucasian men, we undertook an in-depth analysis of the expression of the long non-coding RNA, H19, to identify molecular mechanisms that may contribute to the loss of muscle mass with age. Methods: We carried out transcriptome analysis of vastus lateralis muscle biopsies from 40 healthy Caucasian men aged 68–76 years from the Hertfordshire Sarcopenia Study (HSS) with respect to appendicular lean mass adjusted for height (ALMi). Validation and replication was carried out using qRT-PCR in 130 independent male and female participants aged 73–83 years recruited into an extension of the HSS (HSSe). DNA methylation was assessed using pyrosequencing. Results: Lower ALMi was associated with higher muscle H19 expression (r2 = 0.177, P < 0.001). The microRNAs, miR-675-5p/3p encoded by exon 1 of H19, were positively correlated with H19 expression (Pearson r = 0.192 and 0.182, respectively, P < 0.03), and miR-675-5p expression negatively associated with ALMi (r2 = 0.629, P = 0.005). The methylation of CpGs within the H19 imprinting control region (ICR) were negatively correlated with H19 expression (Pearson r = −0.211 to −0.245, P ≤ 0.05). Moreover, RNA and protein levels of SMAD1 and 5, targets of miR-675-3p, were negatively associated with miR-675-3p (r2 = 0.792 and 0.760, respectively) and miR-675-5p (r2 = 0.584 and 0.723, respectively) expression, and SMAD1 and 5 RNA levels positively associated with greater type II fibre size (r2 = 0.184 and 0.246, respectively, P < 0.05). Conclusions: Increased expression profiles of H19/miR-675-5p/3p and lower expression of the anabolic SMAD1/5 effectors of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling are associated with low muscle mass in older individuals

Placental uptake and metabolism of 25(OH)vitamin D determine its activity within the fetoplacental unit

Pregnancy 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations are associated with maternal and fetal health outcomes. Using physiological human placental perfusion and villous explants, we investigate the role of the placenta in regulating the relationships between maternal 25(OH)D and fetal physiology. We demonstrate active placental uptake of 25(OH)D3 by endocytosis, placental metabolism of 25(OH)D3 into 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D3], with subsequent release of these metabolites into both the maternal and fetal circulations. Active placental transport of 25(OH)D3 and synthesis of 1,25(OH)2D3 demonstrate that fetal supply is dependent on placental function rather than simply the availability of maternal 25(OH)D3. We demonstrate that 25(OH)D3 exposure induces rapid effects on the placental transcriptome and proteome. These map to multiple pathways central to placental function and thereby fetal development, independent of vitamin D transfer. Our data suggest that the underlying epigenetic landscape helps dictate the transcriptional response to vitamin D treatment. This is the first quantitative study demonstrating vitamin D transfer and metabolism by the human placenta, with widespread effects on the placenta itself. These data demonstrate a complex interplay between vitamin D and the placenta and will inform future interventions using vitamin D to support fetal development and maternal adaptations to pregnancy.</jats:p