Internet based distance education

In the informational age of today, continuous learning is of greatest importance. The demand for this seems to be increasing, while at the same time people are under more pressure to carry out more tasks in shorter amounts of time. A way to solve the problem of finding time to learn could be to make use of the possibilities that Internet offers for learning at a distance. The purpose of this thesis is to, from a pedagogical perspective, contribute to the discussion concerning Internet based distance education for a target population consisting of professionals. We have found that some of the courses included in the two certification programs which we have investigated are suitable for Internet based distance education. Furthermore, we believe that such an educational format should be a complement, and not a substitute, for the target population

Starch digestibility in the diabetic rat

The digestibility of a mixture of starches was evaluated in balance experiments, with both normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats treated with antibiotics to prevent colonic fermentation of unabsorbed material. Pancreatic amylase production in the diabetic animals was only 10% of the normal level. In spite of this, only a minor decrease in the total starch digestibility index was recorded for the diabetic group (91% vs 94% in control animals). Although small, such a decreased starch digestibility might aggravate gastrointestinal problems in diabetics and should be acknowledged

An Examination of the Possibility of Lowering the Glycemic Index of Oat and Barley Flakes by Minimal Processing

Differences in glycemic responses to various starchy foods are related to differences in the rate of starch digestion and absorption. In this study, the importance of the degree of gelatinization and the product thickness for postprandial glycemic and insulinemic responses to rolled oats and barley were studied in healthy subjects (5 men and 5 women). Thick (1.0 mm) rolled oats were made from raw or preheated (roasted or steamed) kernels. In addition, thin (0.5 mm) rolled oats were made from roasted or roasted and steamed (processed under conditions simulating commercial production) oat kernels. Finally, steamed rolled barley kernels (0.5 or 1.0 mm) were prepared. All thin flakes elicited high glucose and insulin responses [glycemic index (GI), 88–118; insulinemic index (II), 84–102], not significantly different from white wheat bread (P . 0.05). In contrast, all varieties of thick oat flakes gave significantly lower metabolic responses (GI, 70–78; II, 58–77) than the reference bread (P , 0.05). Thick barley flakes, however, gave high glucose and insulin responses (GI, 94; II, 84), probably because the botanical structure underwent more destruction than the corresponding oat flakes. We conclude that minimal processing of oat and barley flakes had a relatively minor effect on GI features compared with the more extensive commercial processing. One exception was thick oat flakes, which in contrast to the corresponding barley flakes, had a low GI

Repeated Screening is Necessary for Detection of Celiac Disease But Can be Restricted to at Genetic Risk Birth Cohorts.

Celiac disease is associated with tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies (tTGA) in individuals carrying the HLA risk-haplotypes DQA105:01-DQB102:01 (DQ2) and/or DQA103:01-DQB103:02 (DQ8). The aim was to identify celiac disease in a HLA genotyped birth-cohort prospectively screened for celiac disease

Relative sea-level changes since 15 000 cal. yr BP in the Nanortalik area, southern Greenland

We present new results for relative sea-level change for Southern Greenland for the interval from 9000 cal. yr BP to the present. Together with earlier work from the same region this yields a nearly complete record from the time of deglaciation to the present. Isolation and/or transgression sequences in one lake and five tidal basins have been identified using lithostratigraphic analyses, sedimentary characteristics, magnetic susceptibility, saturated induced remanent magnetisation (SIRM), organic and carbonate content, and macrofossil analyses. AMS radiocarbon dating of macrofossils and bulk sediment samples provides the timescale. Relative sea level fell rapidly and reached present-day level at similar to 9300 cal.yr BP and continued falling until at least 9000 cal.yr BP. Between 8000and6000cal.yrBPsea level reached its lowest level of around similar to 10m below highest astronomical tide. At around 5000 cal. yr BP, sea level had reached above 7.8 m below highest astronomical tide and slowly continued to rise, not reaching present-day sea level until today. The isostatic rebound caused rapid isolation of the basins that are seen as distinct isolation contacts in the sediments. In contrast, the late Holocene transgressions are less well defined and occurred over longer time intervals. The late Holocene sea-level rise may be a consequence of isostatic reloading by advancing glaciers and/or an effect of the delayed response to isostatic rebound of the Laurentide ice sheet. One consequence of this transgression is that settlements of Palaeo-Eskimo Cultures may be missing in Southern Greenland. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Holocene relative sea-level changes in the Qaqortoq area, southern Greenland

We present results from an investigation of relative sea-level changes in the Qaqortoq area in south Greenland from c. 11 000 cal. yr BP to the present. Isolation and transgression sequences from six lakes and two tidal basins have been identified using stratigraphical analyses, magnetic susceptibility, XRF and macrofossil analyses. Macrofossils and bulk sediments have been dated by AMS radiocarbon dating. Maximum and minimum altitudes for relative sea level are provided from two deglaciation and marine lagoon sequences. Initially, relative sea level fell rapidly and reached present-day level at similar to 9000 cal. yr BP and continued falling until at least 8800 cal. yr BP. Between 8000 and 6000 cal. yr BP, sea level reached its lowest level of around 6-8 m below highest astronomical tide (h.a.t.). At around 3750 cal. yr BP, sea level has reached above 2.7 m below h.a.t. and continued to rise slowly, reaching the present-day level between similar to 2000 cal. yr BP and the present. As in the Nanortalik area further south, initial isostatic rebound caused rapid isolation of low elevation basins in the Qaqortoq area. Distinct isolation contacts in the sediments are observed. The late Holocene transgression is less well defined and occurred over a longer time interval. The late Holocene sea-level rise implies reloading by advancing glaciers superimposed on the isostatic signal from the North American Ice Sheet. One consequence of this transgression is that settlements of Palaeo-Eskimo cultures from similar to 4000 cal. yr BP may have been transgressed by the sea

Reduced Bone Mineral Density in Children with Screening-detected Celiac Disease

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess whether bone mass and metabolism are impaired in genetically at-risk children with screening-detected celiac disease. Methods: Included were 71 children with screening-detected celiac disease diagnosed at 10.0 ± 0.7 (mean ± standard deviation) years and 142 matched controls and 30 children with screening-detected celiac disease diagnosed at 3.3 ± 0.4 years of age presently on a gluten-free diet for 6.9 ± 1.1 years and 60 matched controls. All participants were assessed for bone mineral density (BMD) of total body and spine by dual X-ray absorptiometry, serum 25(OH) vitamin D3, parathyroid hormone (PTH), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-15, interferon gamma, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Results: At diagnosis, screening-detected celiac disease children as compared to controls had a mean-0.03 g/cm 2 reduced BMD of both total body and spine (P = 0.009 and P = 0.005, respectively), a mean-11.4 nmol/L lower level of 25(OH) vitamin D3 (P < 0.001), and a mean +1.0 pmol/L higher PTH level (P < 0.001). Systemic levels of the cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor alpha were all increased in screening-detected celiac disease as compared to controls (P < 0.001). No difference in BMD, 25(OH) vitamin D3, PTH, and cytokine levels were detected in children on a gluten-free diet compared with controls. Conclusions: Children with screening-detected celiac disease have reduced BMD, lower levels of vitamin D3, higher levels of PTH, and signs of systemic inflammation compared with controls. These differences were not found in celiac disease children on a gluten-free diet, indicating that children with screening-detected celiac disease benefit from an early diagnosis and treatment

Resistant starch formation in temperature treated potato starches varying in amylose/amylopectin ratio

Two genetically modified potato starches derived from the same mother line (64%, 1% and 23% amylose, respectively) were used to study the bioavailability after various heat treatments. The conditions for the treatments were of minor importance for resistant starch (RS) formation and hydrolysis results, as compared to the proportion of amylose. A high amylose content gave lower hydrolysis index (HI) and higher amounts of RS than starches with less amylose. Retrograded amylopectin contributed to a decreased HI, although only the high amylose line showed sufficient reduction in predicted glycaemic indices (Gl). The line with high amylose content contained 25-30% RS vs. in the range of 0-5% for the other starches. Results could neither be explained by the presence of intact granules, nor by the content of retrograded amylose. Therefore, a synergistic effect between the starch components was suggested to affect the RS and starch hydrolysis. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved