What Every Faculty Developer Needs to Know about Learning Groups

This article advances two related propositions. One is that virtually all of the commonly reported problems with learning groups, such as less content coverage, free-riders, and students\u27 feeling that instructors are not teaching unless they are talking, are a natural consequence of they way the groups are being used. The other is that the vast majority of the problems can be prevented by avoiding group assignments that retard the development of effective learning teams and limit student learning. This article will a) examine the underlying causes of the most commonly reported problems with learning groups, b) outline some simple, but effective, strategies for preventing their occurrence in the first place and, c) describe a new tool, the Learning Activity Impact Grid (LAI-Grid), that can be used to ensure that assignments promote both team development and learning

Growth and energy and protein intake of preterm newborns in the first year of gestation-corrected age

CONTEXT: There are few longitudinal studies that analyze the growth and nutritional status parameters of children born prematurely. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the growth and dietary intake of preterm newborns in the first year of gestation-corrected age. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: Tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: 19 children (7 male) who were born prematurely, with birth weight between 1000g and 2000g, which was adequate for the gestational age. PROCEDURES: At 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of gestation-corrected age, children were evaluated in relation to weight, height and cephalic perimeter, using the National Center for Health Statistics as the standard reference, and the Rozalez-Lopez and Frisancho standards for brachial perimeter and triceps and subscapular skinfolds. The calculated dietary intake was compared to the Recommended Dietary Allowances. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: The Z score was calculated for the weight/age, height/age and weight/height relationships, and the percentiles of the perimeters and skinfolds were considered. Dietary intake records were made using the 24-hour Dietary Recall and the Food Frequency Intake Questionnaire methods. The Virtual Nutri software was used to calculate energy and protein intake. RESULTS: The weight/age, height/age and weight/height relationships and the brachial perimeter and triceps skinfold were statistically greater in the first semester in relation to the second. The cephalic perimeter remained above the 50th percentile for the ages studied and there was no difference in the subscapular skinfold between the first and second semesters, remaining below the 50th percentile. The calorie and protein intake, although statistically lower in the first than in the second semester, always remained above the recommended. CONCLUSIONS: The pace of growth is greater in the first semester than in the second, not reaching the standard expected for full-term newborns, with the exception of the cephalic perimeter, which remains adequate. Calorie/protein intake shows an inverse relationship with growth speed, remaining above the recommended for full-term newborns, although with difficulty in depositing subcutaneous fat, in spite of the high caloric intake.CONTEXTO: Atualmente há estudos longitudinais limitados que definem parâmetros de crescimento e estado nutricional de crianças nascidas prematuras. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o crescimento e a ingestão dietética em recém-nascidos pré-termo no primeiro ano de idade corrigida. TIPO DE ESTUDO: Estudo clínico prospectivo. LOCAL: Hospital de cuidados terciários. PACIENTES: 19 crianças (sete do sexo masculino) nascidas prematuras, adequadas para a idade gestacional, com peso de nascimento entre 1.000 g e 2.000 g, acompanhadas aos 3, 6, 9 e 12 meses de idade corrigida. PROCEDIMENTOS: Aos 3, 6, 9 e 12 meses de idade corrigida, as crianças foram avaliadas quanto ao peso, estatura e perímetros utilizando-se, como padrão de referência, o National Center of Health Statistics e quanto à circunferência braquial e às dobras cutâneas triciptal e subescapular, utilizando-se o padrão de Ronalez-Lopez e de Frisancho. A ingestão dietética calculada foi comparada às Recommended Dietary Allowances. RESULTADOS: As relações peso/idade, estatura/idade, peso/estatura, circunferência braquial e dobra cutânea do tríceps foram estatisticamente maiores no primeiro semestre em relação ao segundo. O perímetro cefálico manteve-se acima do percentil 50 nas idades estudadas e a dobra cutânea subescapular não mostrou diferença entre o primeiro e o segundo semestres, mantendo-se abaixo do percentil 50. A ingestão de calorias e proteínas, apesar de estatisticamente menor no primeiro do que no segundo semestre, permaneceu sempre maior do que o recomendado. CONCLUSÕES: O ritmo de crescimento mostra maior velocidade no primeiro semestre do que no segundo, não atingindo o padrão esperado para os recém-nascidos a termo, com exceção do perímetro cefálico, que se mantém adequado. A ingestão de calorias/proteínas mostra relação inversa com o ritmo de crescimento, permanecendo acima do recomendado para nascidos a termo, havendo, porém, dificuldade de deposição de gordura subcutânea, apesar da alta ingestão calórica.Universidade PaulistaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Seasonal variation in objectively measured physical activity, sedentary time, cardio-respiratory fitness and sleep duration among 8–11 year-old Danish children: a repeated-measures study

Abstract Background Understanding fluctuations in lifestyle indicators is important to identify relevant time periods to intervene in order to promote a healthy lifestyle; however, objective assessment of multiple lifestyle indicators has never been done using a repeated-measures design. The primary aim was, therefore, to examine between-season and within-week variation in physical activity, sedentary behaviour, cardio-respiratory fitness and sleep duration among 8–11 year-old children. Methods A total of 1021 children from nine Danish schools were invited to participate and 834 accepted. Due to missing data, 730 children were included in the current analytical sample. An accelerometer was worn for 7 days and 8 nights during autumn, winter and spring, from which physical activity, sedentary time and sleep duration were measured. Cardio-respiratory fitness was assessed using a 10-min intermittent running test. Results The children had 5% more sedentary time, 23% less time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and 2% longer sleep duration during winter compared to spring and cardio-respiratory fitness was 4% higher during spring compared to autumn (P < 0.001). Sedentary time was higher and total physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sleep duration (boys only) were lower during weekends at all seasons (P ≤ 0.01). Intraclass correlation coefficients between seasons ranged from 0.47-0.74, leaving 45-78% to seasonal variation. Conclusions Overall, sedentary time was higher and physical activity lower during winter and during weekends. The most accurate and unbiased estimates of physical activity came from autumn; however, the considerable intra-individual variation suggests that a single measurement may not adequately characterise children’s habitual sleep and activity

Hydrogen fluoride and inorganic fluorine compounds (fluorides) – Addendum: Evaluation of a pregnancy risk group for the BAT value

In 2005, the German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area re-evaluated the maximum workplace concentration (MAK value) of hydrogen fluoride [7664-39-3] and fluorides [16984-48-8]. If the MAK values of 1 ml hydrogen fluoride/m3 (0.83 mg/m3) or 1 mg fluoride/m3, respectively, are not exceeded, prenatal toxic effects are not to be expected. Therefore, hydrogen fluoride and fluorides were classified in Pregnancy Risk Group C. In 2013, the biological tolerance value (BAT value) for hydrogen fluoride and inorganic fluorine compounds (fluorides) of 4 mg fluoride/l urine was established which protects against the long-term effects of fluoride such as skeletal fluorosis. The BAT value was not derived in correlation to the MAK value. For this reason, it is to be evaluated whether no prenatal toxic effects are to be expected when the BAT value is adhered to. By extrapolating the NOAEL (no observed adverse effect level) for developmental toxicity in rodent studies to fluoride concentrations in urine it could be concluded that Pregnancy Risk Group C is also valid for the BAT value

Dichloromethane – Addendum: evaluation of a pregnancy risk group for the BAT value

In 2014, the German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area re-evaluated the maximum workplace concentration (MAK value) of dichloromethane [75-09-2] and set a MAK value of 50 ml dichloromethane/m3 (180 mg/m3). In humans, exposure to 50 ml/m3 of dichloromethane led to CO-Hb levels in the range of 3%, which is above the endogenous CO-Hb range of 0.4–2.6% in non-smoking pregnant women. There is no information available on the CO-Hb level at which oxygen deficiency occurs in the foetal tissues. As a result, the possibility of prenatal toxicity cannot be excluded even if the MAK value of 50 ml dichloromethane/m3 is observed. Based on thisfinding, classification in Pregnancy Risk Group B has been confirmed. In 2015, the biological tolerance value (BAT value) of 500 μg dichloromethane/l blood was derived in correlation to the MAK value. Pregnancy Risk Group B istherefore also valid forthe BAT value. The possibility of prenatal toxicity cannot be excluded even when adhering to the BAT value of 500 μg dichloromethane/l bloo