Teaching STEMSS to Diverse Learners Through Changing Modalities: An eLearning Professional Development

The number of English language learners (ELs) in schools has significantly increased over the last decade and teachers are not fully prepared to teach this growing population because of limited training and a lack of skills necessary to address academic needs in both language and content. This mixed-methods study explored the effectiveness of an online professional development (PD) for increasing the teachers’ knowledge, skills, use, and self-efficacy in teaching science, technology, engineering, math, and social studies (STEMSS) content and the English language in tandem through changing modalities with teachers’ perceptions of the approach used within the PD. Vygotsky's socio-cultural theory and Lave and Wenger's community of practice theory guided the development, documentation and analysis of the impact of the PD. Twenty-four Arizona K-12 teachers of language learners (TLLs) were recruited. The teacher participants completed a pre-survey, then the online PD, and, finally, a post-survey and interview.Dependent t-test resultsprovided evidence that the PD significantly increased participants’ self-reported knowledge, use, and self-efficacy to support Els’ academic vocabulary in teaching whether face-to-face or online. The impact of the PD on these three constructs was further supported with data-driven themes generated from the interview data which increased the trustworthiness of the findings. Participants overwhelmingly valued the peer interaction for increasing their knowledge and understanding of effective pedagogical practices and their self-efficacy in supporting ELs in their classrooms whether teaching in-person or virtually through new methodological approaches that changed pedagogical practice

Real world preventative drug management of migraine among Spanish neurologists

BACKGROUND: Many different preventatives have showed efficacy in the treatment of migraine. National guidelines differ in their recommendations and patients' characteristics are usually taken into account in their selection. In Spain, real life use of preventive therapies seems to be heterogeneous. We aimed to evaluate differences in clinical practice and adherence to national guidelines among Spanish neurologists. METHODS: Observational descriptive study. A survey was conducted among neurologists ascribed to the Spanish Society of Neurology. Participants were differentiated in accordance with their dedication to headache disorders. We analysed socio-demographic parameters and evaluated 43 questions considering migraine management as well as therapeutic choices regarding migraine sub-types and finally, neurologists' personal perception. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-five neurologists participated from 17 different regions, 43.4% of them female and 53.3% under 40¿years of age. 34.9% confirmed headache disorders as their main interest. The first choice for preventive therapy in chronic migraine among participants was topiramate (57%) followed by amytriptiline (17.9%) and beta-blockers (14.6%). However in episodic migraine, the preferred options were beta-blockers (47.7%), topiramate (21.5%) and amytriptiline (13.4%). Regarding perceived efficacy, topiramate was considered the best option in chronic migraine (42.7%) followed by onabotulinumtoxinA (25.5%) and amitryptiline (22.4%). Where episodic migraine was concerned, surveyed neurologists perceived topiramate (43.7%) and beta-blockers (30.3%) as the best options. When we evaluated the duration of treatment use with a view to adequate therapeutic response, 43.5% of neurologists preferred 3¿months duration and 39.5% were in favour of 6¿months duration in episodic migraine. However, considering the preferred duration of treatment use in chronic migraine, 20.4% recommended 3¿months, 42.1% preferred 6¿months and 12.5% and 22.4% opted for 9 and 12¿months respectively. When considering onabotulinumtoxinA therapy, the number of prior therapeutic failures was zero in 7.2% of neurologists, one in 5.9%, two in 44.1%, three in 30.9% and four or more in 11.9%. Following an initial treatment failure with onabotulinumtoxinA, 49% of subjects decided against a second treatment. The number of OnabotA procedures before considering it as ineffective was two in 18.9% of neurologists, three in 70.8% and four in 10.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The initial management of migraine among Spanish Neurologists is in line with most guidelines, where first choice preventative drugs are concerned. The Management of episodic migraine differed from chronic migraine, both in terms of neurologist preference and in their perceived efficacy

Streptococcus pneumoniae TIGR4 flavodoxin: Structural and biophysical characterization of a novel drug target

Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp) strain TIGR4 is a virulent, encapsulated serotype that causes bacteremia, otitis media, meningitis and pneumonia. Increased bacterial resistance and limited efficacy of the available vaccine to some serotypes complicate the treatment of diseases associated to this microorganism. Flavodoxins are bacterial proteins involved in several important metabolic pathways. The Sp flavodoxin (Spfld) gene was recently reported to be essential for the establishment of meningitis in a rat model, which makes SpFld a potential drug target. To facilitate future pharmacological studies, we have cloned and expressed SpFld in E. coli and we have performed an extensive structural and biochemical characterization of both the apo form and its active complex with the FMN cofactor. SpFld is a short-chain flavodoxin containing 146 residues. Unlike the well-characterized long-chain apoflavodoxins, the Sp apoprotein displays a simple two-state thermal unfolding equilibrium and binds FMN with moderate affinity. The X-ray structures of the apo and holo forms of SpFld differ at the FMN binding site, where substantial rearrangement of residues at the 91-100 loop occurs to permit cofactor binding. This work will set up the basis for future studies aiming at discovering new potential drugs to treat S. pneumoniae diseases through the inhibition of SpFld.We acknowledge financial support from BFU2010-16297 and BFU2010-19504 [Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Spain], BFU2013-47064-P, BIO2014-57314-REDT and CTQ2013-44367-C2-2-P [Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain], and DGA (Protein Targets B89). We also thank synchrotron radiation sources DLS (Oxford), and in particular beamline I04-1 (experiment number MX8035-3 and MX8035-11). The research leading to these results has also received funding from the FP7 (2007–2013) under BIOSTRUCTX-7687. A.R.C. was funded by a Banco Santander Central Hispano/Universidad de Zaragoza predoctoral fellowship. M. C-G was recipient of a predoctoral fellowship from the Government of Aragón.Peer Reviewe

Real-world preventative drug management of Chronic Migraine among Spanish Neurologists

O42 Background: In migraine, the therapeutic preventive drug arsenal is varied. Whenprescribing both Guidelines and patient characteristics are taken intoaccount. In Spain, the use of preventive therapies seems to beheterogeneous.The objective of this study was to evaluate real-life clinical prescribingpractice amongst neurologists in Spain Methods: Observational descriptive study done with a survey by Neurologistsof the Spanish Neurological Society (SEN). Neurologists who participatedwere divided into Headache Specialists or not. The followingdata was collected: socio-demographic data, ; preventive treatmentand choices different migraine sub-types, and their personal perceptionof efficacy and tolerability to different drugs. Results: We analyzed 152 surveys from neurologists around our country.From them: 43.4% were female, 53.3% <40 years, and 34.9% were interestedin headache .In regards to preventive treatment choice; in chronic migraine topiramate(57%) amytriptiline (17.9%) and beta-blockers (14.6%), whereasin episodic migraine the preferred drugs were beta-blockers (47.7%), topiramate (21.5%) and amytriptiline (13.4%).Regarding perceived efficacy, topiramate was considered the bestoption in chronic migraine (42.7%) followed by onabotulinumtoxinA(25.5%) and amitryptiline (22.4%). In episodic migraine, neurologistpreferred topiramate (43.7%) and beta-blockers (30.3%).Regarding the duration of preventive therapy when improvementwas achieved, when treating episodic migraine 43.5% of the surveyedneurologists recommended 3 months and 39.5% preferred 6months. When they treated chronic migraine, 20.4% of neurologistsrecommended 3 months, 42.1% 6 months, 12.5% 9 months and22.4% preferred to maintain treatment during 12 months.When considering onabotulinumtoxinA treatment, the number ofprior therapeutical failures was cero in 7.2% of surveyed, one in5.9%, two in 44.1%, three in 30.9%, and four or more in 11.9%. Theincrease of OnabotulinumtoxinA dose up to 195 UI was consideredby 51% of neurologists after a first ineffective procedure, by 42.2% after two injections, and by 83% after a third infiltration. Surveyedcolleagues admitted to take into account in their decisions mainlypatient comorbidities (70.2%) rather than guidelines (13.9%). Conclusions: Initial management of Migraine among Spanish Neurologists is madewith the preventative drugs which are considered as first choices inmost of the guidelines. Management of episodic migraine differedfrom chronic migraine, both in the order or drugs and the perceptionof the most effective therapy

Relative importance of environment, human activity and spatial situation in determining the distribution of terrestrial mammal diversity in Argentina

We recorded the number of terrestrial mammal species in each Argentinian province, and the number of species belonging to particular groups (Marsupialia, Placentaria, and among the latter, Xenarthra, Carnivora, Ungulates and Rodentia). We performed multiple regressions of each group’s SR on environmental, human and spatial variables, to determine the amounts of variation explained by these factors. We then used a variance partitioning procedure to specify which proportion of the variation in SR is explained by each of the three factors exclusively and which proportions are attributable to interactions between factors

Current clinical practice in disabling and chronic migraine in the primary care setting: results from the European My-LIFE anamnesis survey.

Migraine is a prevalent and disabling headache disorder that affects more than 1.04 billion individuals world-wide. It can result in reduction in quality of life, increased disability, and high socio-economic burden. Nevertheless, and despite the availability of evidence-based national and international guidelines, the management of migraine patients often remains suboptimal, especially for chronic migraine (CM) patients. My-LIFE anamnesis project surveyed 201 General practitioners (GPs) from 5 European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK) with the aim of understanding chronic migraine (CM) patients' management in the primary care setting. In our survey, GPs diagnosed episodic migraine (EM) more often than CM (87% vs 61%, p &lt; 0.001). We found that many CM patients were not properly managed or referred to specialists, in contrast to guidelines recommendations. The main tools used by primary-care physicians included clinical interview, anamnesis guide, and patient diary. Tools used at the first visit differed from those used at follow-up visits. Up to 82% of GPs reported being responsible for management of patients diagnosed with disabling or CM and did not refer them to a specialist. Even when the GP had reported referring CM patients to a specialist, 97% of them were responsible for their follow-up. Moreover, the treatment prescribed, both acute and preventive, was not in accordance with local and international recommendations. GPs reported that they evaluated the efficacy of the treatment prescribed mainly through patient perception, and the frequency of follow-up visits was not clearly established in the primary care setting. These results suggest that CM is underdiagnosed and undertreated; thereby its management is suboptimal in the primary care. There is a need of guidance in the primary care setting to both leverage the management of CM patients and earlier referral to specialists, when appropriate

Geographical gradients in Argentinean terrestrial mammal species richness and their environmental correlates.

We analysed the main geographical trends of terrestrial mammal species richness (SR) in Argentina, assessing how broad-scale environmental variation (defined by climatic and topographic variables) and the spatial form of the country (defined by spatial filters based on spatial eigenvector mapping (SEVM)) influence the kinds and the numbers of mammal species along these geographical trends. We also evaluated if there are pure geographical trends not accounted for by the environmental or spatial factors. The environmental variables and spatial filters that simultaneously correlated with the geographical variables and SR were considered potential causes of the geographic trends. We performed partial correlations between SR and the geographical variables, maintaining the selected explanatory variables statistically constant, to determine if SR was fully explained by them or if a significant residual geographic pattern remained. All groups and subgroups presented a latitudinal gradient not attributable to the spatial form of the country. Most of these trends were not explained by climate.We used a variation partitioning procedure to quantify the pure geographic trend (PGT) that remained unaccounted for. The PGT was larger for latitudinal than for longitudinal gradients. This suggests that historical or purely geographical causes may also be relevant drivers of these geographical gradients in mammal diversity

Itinerant Ferromagnetism in the Periodic Anderson Model

We introduce a novel mechanism for itinerant ferromagnetism, based on a simple two-band model. The model includes an uncorrelated and dispersive band hybridized with a second band which is narrow and correlated. The simplest Hamiltonian containing these ingredients is the Periodic Anderson Model (PAM). Using quantum Monte Carlo and analytical methods, we show that the PAM and an extension of it contain the new mechanism and exhibit a non-saturated ferromagnetic ground state in the intermediate valence regime. We propose that the mechanism, which does not assume an intra atomic Hund's coupling, is present in both the iron group and in some f electron compounds like Ce(Rh_{1-x} Ru_x)_3 B_2, La_x Ce_{1-x} Rh_3 B_2 and the uranium monochalcogenides US, USe, and UTe

Análisis de las alteraciones en la estructura neurofisiológica en la migraña

La migraña es un trastorno neurológico que se divide en dos subtipos dependiendo de la frecuencia de los ataques al mes: migraña crónica (MC) y episódica (ME). No existen biomarcadores que permitan realizar un diagnóstico preciso. Por ello, el objetivo de este estudio es cuantificar las posibles alteraciones producidas por los subtipos de migraña en la estructura de relaciones formada por las diferentes jerarquías de la actividad cerebral (activación local y sincronización global). Para ello, se ha analizado la actividad electroencefalográfica de 86 sujetos (18 controles, 35 pacientes con MC y 33 con ME). Se han calculado diversas medidas para caracterizar los niveles neurofisiológicos y se han evaluado las correlaciones entre ellas para generar redes de asociación que permitan realizar un análisis completo. Asimismo, se han calculado seis parámetros de red sobre las redes resultantes, analizándolos estadísticamente. Los resultados muestran que las redes de migraña presentan mayores propiedades “small world” con respecto a los controles, mostrando un mayor coeficiente de agrupamiento y una menor longitud de camino. Además, el análisis de entropía y complejidad de grafo presenta otra visión de cómo las redes presentan topologías más óptimas en MC y ME respecto a los sujetos de control. Por último, se ha observado una disminución de la centralidad y aumento de la modularidad en las redes de MC y ME, lo que indica configuraciones más robustas. Dichos cambios podrían deberse a un proceso de reestructuración cerebral mediado por fenómenos de neuroplasticidad, con el fin de mantener la integridad funcional.Este estudio ha sido financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación / Agencia Estatal de Investigación / 10.13019/501100011033, por el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) ‘Una manera de hacer Europa’, bajo el proyecto PID2022-138286NB-I00, y por el CIBER en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN) a través del Instituto de Salud Carlos III. V. Gutiérrez-de Pablo es beneficiario de un contrato PIF-UVa de la Universidad de Valladolid

Evaluation of the Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown in the Clinical Course of Migraine

Objective: Previous studies have demonstrated that emotional stress, changes in lifestyle habits and infections can worsen the clinical course of migraine. We hypothesize that changes in habits and medical care during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown might have worsened the clinical course of migraine. Design: Retrospective survey study collecting online responses from migraine patients followed-up by neurologists at three tertiary hospitals between June and July 2020. Methods: We used a web-based survey that included demographic data, clinical variables related with any headache (frequency) and migraine (subjective worsening, frequency, and intensity), lockdown, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Results: The response rate of the survey was 239/324 (73.8%). The final analysis included 222 subjects. Among them, 201/222 (90.5%) were women, aged 42.5 ± 12.0 (mean±SD). Subjective improvement of migraine during lockdown was reported in 31/222 participants (14.0%), while worsening in 105/222 (47.3%) and was associated with changes in migraine triggers such as stress related to going outdoors and intake of specific foods or drinks. Intensity of attacks increased in 67/222 patients (30.2%), and it was associated with the subjective worsening, female sex, recent insomnia, and use of acute medication during a headache. An increase in monthly days with any headache was observed in 105/222 patients (47.3%) and was related to symptoms of post-traumatic stress, older age and living with five or more people. Conclusions: Approximately half the migraine patients reported worsening of their usual pain during the lockdown. Worse clinical course in migraine patients was related to changes in triggers and the emotional impact of the lockdown. © 2021 The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Academy of Pain Medicine