290 research outputs found

    Qué nivel de conceptualización legitima el docente en clases de química de primer año de polimodal. una mirada desde el discurso

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    El trabajo analiza la influencia del diálogo áulico, en la conceptualización del contenido Reacción Química, mediante investigación etnográfica con estudio interpretativo y de casos, en clases de primer año de nivel polimodal (16 a17 años) de dos docentes de esuelas Argentinas. Se analiza el contenido curricular expresado en niveles de conceptualización, lo cual se explicita en los mensajes que planifica y legitima el docente en las clases

    Chytridiomycosis, amphibian extinctions, and lessons for the prevention of future panzootics.

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    Abstract: The human-mediated transport of infected amphibians is the most plausible driver for the intercontinental spread of chytridiomycosis, a recently emerged infectious disease responsible for amphibian population declines and extinctions on multiple continents. Chytridiomycosis is now globally ubiquitous, and it cannot be eradicated from affected sites. Its rapid spread both within and between continents provides a valuable lesson on preventing future panzootics and subsequent erosion of biodiversity, not only of amphibians, but of a wide array of taxa: the continued inter-continental trade and transport of animals will inevitably lead to the spread of novel pathogens, followed by numerous extinctions. Herein, we define and discuss three levels of amphibian disease management: (1) post-exposure prophylactic measures that are curative in nature and applicable only in a small number of situations; (2) pre-exposure prophylactic measures that reduce disease threat in the short-term; and (3) preventive measures that remove the threat altogether. Preventive measures include a virtually complete ban on all unnecessary long-distance trade and transport of amphibians, and are the only method of protecting amphibians from disease-induced declines and extinctions over the long-term. Legislation to prevent the emergence of new diseases is urgently required to protect global amphibian biodiversity

    No Change in Perceptual or Chronotropic Outcome When Altering Preferred Step Frequency for a Short Duration

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    IIntroduction: Millions of individuals incorporate jogging into their physical activity routines as a leisurely pursuit and as a way to achieve positive health outcomes. People appear to choose jogging speed and the associated step frequency on pure, natural preference. Understandably, kinesthetics are important, but another important underlying factor is metabolic cost. The purpose of this work was to investigate if preferred step frequency (at a preferred jogging pace) also minimizes perceived effort (Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion, 6-20; RPE) and chronotropic stress (heart rate; HR) during a ten-minute activity bout when compared with step frequencies altered by 5%. Methods: Recreationally-trained male subjects underwent two testing visits. The first visit was used to establish RPE and HR responses during a 10-minute jogging activity at preferred speed and step frequency. On a subsequent visit, between two and four days later, with preferred speed maintained, subjects were guided by metronome to strike at either 95% or 105% of their preferred step frequency. The 10-minute runs were randomized, crossed-over, and separated by 20 minutes. RPE and HR were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Fourteen subjects (age: 21.1 ± 0.95; body mass index: 23.2 ± 2.5) enrolled. Preferred jogging speed (speed. 6.4 ± 1.0 miles per hour; 10.2 ± 1.6 kilometers per hour) and step frequency (steps. 161.2 ± 10.3 steps/minute) were determined at the first visit, along with RPE (11.3 ± 1.7) and HR (166.4 ± 12.7). At the second visit, preferred speed was maintained while the frequency of foot-strike was altered. Neither differences in RPE (p = 0.252; 11.3 ± 1.7, 11.6 ± 1.9, 11.8 ± 1.5) nor HR (p = 0.547; 166.4 ± 12.7, 164.7 ± 14.9, 165.2 ± 15.3) were different when comparing the preferred, 95%, and 105% step frequency trials, respectively. Although anecdotal, some subjects verbalized displeasure with the change in pace and most all appeared to markedly alter the initial foot strike phase of the gait to meet the directed foot strike tempo. Discussion: Our data must be interpreted cautiously. While altering step frequency by 5% for a short duration does not appear to alter an individual’s RPE or HR appreciably, the result during longer duration activity may not be the same. In addition, the implications for biomechanical loading and metabolic cost were not presently investigated

    Examining the Evidence for Chytridiomycosis in Threatened Amphibian Species

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    Extinction risks are increasing for amphibians due to rising threats and minimal conservation efforts. Nearly one quarter of all threatened/extinct amphibians in the IUCN Red List is purportedly at risk from the disease chytridiomycosis. However, a closer look at the data reveals that Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (the causal agent) has been identified and confirmed to cause clinical disease in only 14% of these species. Primary literature surveys confirm these findings; ruling out major discrepancies between Red List assessments and real-time science. Despite widespread interest in chytridiomycosis, little progress has been made between assessment years to acquire evidence for the role of chytridiomycosis in species-specific amphibian declines. Instead, assessment teams invoke the precautionary principle when listing chytridiomycosis as a threat. Precaution is valuable when dealing with the world's most threatened taxa, however scientific research is needed to distinguish between real and predicted threats in order to better prioritize conservation efforts. Fast paced, cost effective, in situ research to confirm or rule out chytridiomycosis in species currently hypothesized to be threatened by the disease would be a step in the right direction. Ultimately, determining the manner in which amphibian conservation resources are utilized is a conversation for the greater conservation community that we hope to stimulate here

    Riding the Wave: Reconciling the Roles of Disease and Climate Change in Amphibian Declines

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    We review the evidence for the role of climate change in triggering disease outbreaks of chytridiomycosis, an emerging infectious disease of amphibians. Both climatic anomalies and disease-related extirpations are recent phenomena, and effects of both are especially noticeable at high elevations in tropical areas, making it difficult to determine whether they are operating separately or synergistically. We compiled reports of amphibian declines from Lower Central America and Andean South America to create maps and statistical models to test our hypothesis of spatiotemporal spread of the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), and to update the elevational patterns of decline in frogs belonging to the genus Atelopus. We evaluated claims of climate change influencing the spread of Bd by including error into estimates of the relationship between air temperature and last year observed. Available data support the hypothesis of multiple introductions of this invasive pathogen into South America and subsequent spread along the primary Andean cordilleras. Additional analyses found no evidence to support the hypothesis that climate change has been driving outbreaks of amphibian chytridiomycosis, as has been posited in the climate-linked epidemic hypothesis. Future studies should increase retrospective surveys of museum specimens from throughout the Andes and should study the landscape genetics of Bd to map fine-scale patterns of geographic spread to identify transmission routes and processes

    Riding the Wave: Reconciling the Roles of Disease and Climate Change in Amphibian Declines

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    We review the evidence for the role of climate change in triggering disease outbreaks of chytridiomycosis, an emerging infectious disease of amphibians. Both climatic anomalies and disease-related extirpations are recent phenomena, and effects of both are especially noticeable at high elevations in tropical areas, making it difficult to determine whether they are operating separately or synergistically. We compiled reports of amphibian declines from Lower Central America and Andean South America to create maps and statistical models to test our hypothesis of spatiotemporal spread of the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), and to update the elevational patterns of decline in frogs belonging to the genus Atelopus. We evaluated claims of climate change influencing the spread of Bd by including error into estimates of the relationship between air temperature and last year observed. Available data support the hypothesis of multiple introductions of this invasive pathogen into South America and subsequent spread along the primary Andean cordilleras. Additional analyses found no evidence to support the hypothesis that climate change has been driving outbreaks of amphibian chytridiomycosis, as has been posited in the climate-linked epidemic hypothesis. Future studies should increase retrospective surveys of museum specimens from throughout the Andes and should study the landscape genetics of Bd to map fine-scale patterns of geographic spread to identify transmission routes and processes

    Secondary education reform in Lesotho and Zimbabwe and the needs of rural girls: Pronouncements, policy and practice

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    Analysis of the educational needs of rural girls in Lesotho and Zimbabwe suggests a number of shortcomings in the current form of secondary education, and ways in which it might be modified so as to serve this sizeable group of students better. Several of the shortcomings, notably in relation to curricular irrelevance and excessive focus on examinations, have long been recognised, including by politicians. Yet political pronouncements are seldom translated into policy, and even where policy is formulated, reforms are seldom implemented in schools. This paper makes use of interviews with educational decision-makers in the two southern African countries and a range of documentary sources to explore why, despite the considerable differences between the two contexts, much needed educational reforms have been implemented in neither

    Do Frogs Get Their Kicks on Route 66? Continental U.S. Transect Reveals Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Infection

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    The chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has been devastating amphibians globally. Two general scenarios have been proposed for the nature and spread of this pathogen: Bd is an epidemic, spreading as a wave and wiping out individuals, populations, and species in its path; and Bd is endemic, widespread throughout many geographic regions on every continent except Antarctica. To explore these hypotheses, we conducted a transcontinental transect of United States Department of Defense (DoD) installations along U.S. Highway 66 from California to central Illinois, and continuing eastward to the Atlantic Seaboard along U.S. Interstate 64 (in sum from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California to Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia). We addressed the following questions: 1) Does Bd occur in amphibian populations on protected DoD environments? 2) Is there a temporal pattern to the presence of Bd? 3) Is there a spatial pattern to the presence of Bd? and 4) In these limited human-traffic areas, is Bd acting as an epidemic (i.e., with evidence of recent introduction and/or die-offs due to chytridiomycosis), or as an endemic (present without clinical signs of disease)? Bd was detected on 13 of the 15 bases sampled. Samples from 30 amphibian species were collected (10% of known United States' species); half (15) tested Bd positive. There was a strong temporal (seasonal) component; in total, 78.5% of all positive samples came in the first (spring/early-summer) sampling period. There was also a strong spatial component—the eleven temperate DoD installations had higher prevalences of Bd infection (20.8%) than the four arid (<60 mm annual precipitation) bases (8.5%). These data support the conclusion that Bd is now widespread, and promote the idea that Bd can today be considered endemic across much of North America, extending from coast-to-coast, with the exception of remote pockets of naïve populations

    Two-Stage Treatment of Enterocutaneous Fistulas

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    Aim: to determine the most efficient treatment of enterocutaneous fistulas.Materials and methods. Eighty-eight patients with intestinal fistulas underwent a two-stage treatment, including: the first stage — multicomponent therapy, the second stage — reconstructive surgery. Enterocutaneous fistulas were diagnosed in 61 patients, enteroatmospheric fistulas — in 26 patients, and combined fistula (enterocutaneous and enteroatmospheric) — in 1 patient.Results. All 88 patients underwent reconstructive surgery after the multicomponent therapy. Resection of the intestine with a fistula with the formation of an entero-entero anastomosis was performed in 72 (81.8 %) patients; marginal resection of the intestine with a fistula, followed by suturing of the defect — in 7 (8.0 %); resection of the intestine with fistulas in combination with excision and suturing of the fistula — in 5 (5.7 %); an operation aimed at disabling the fistula from the passage of intestinal contents — in 3 (3.4 %); resection of the intestine with a fistula in combination with fistula exclusion — in 1 (1.1 %) patient. Postoperative complications in the group of patients with enteroatmospheric fistulas occurred in 13 cases, in the group with enterocutaneous fistulas — in 25 patients. Three (3.4 %) patients with enterocutaneous fistulas died from complications unrelated to the underlying disease and surgical interventions.Conclusion. Two-stage treatment including multicomponent therapy (nutritional support, infection generalization control, local wound treatment) and reconstructive surgery allowed to reduce mortality rates to 3.4 %, which proves the effectiveness of this method

    Short-Term Exposure to Warm Microhabitats Could Explain Amphibian Persistence with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

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    Environmental conditions can alter the outcomes of symbiotic interactions. Many amphibian species have declined due to chytridiomycosis, caused by the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), but many others persist despite high Bd infection prevalence. This indicates that Bd's virulence is lower, or it may even be a commensal, in some hosts. In the Australian Wet Tropics, chytridiomycosis extirpated Litoria nannotis from high-elevation rain forests in the early 1990 s. Although the species is recolonizing many sites, no population has fully recovered. Litoria lorica disappeared from all known sites in the early 1990 s and was thought globally extinct, but a new population was discovered in 2008, in an upland dry forest habitat it shares with L. nannotis. All frogs of both species observed during three population censuses were apparently healthy, but most carried Bd. Frogs perch on sun-warmed rocks in dry forest streams, possibly keeping Bd infections below the lethal threshold attained in cooler rain forests. We tested whether short-term elevated temperatures can hamper Bd growth in vitro over one generation (four days). Simulating the temperatures available to frogs on strongly and moderately warmed rocks in dry forests, by incubating cultures at 33°C for one hour daily, reduced Bd growth below that of Bd held at 15°C constantly (representing rain forest habitats). Even small decreases in the exponential growth rate of Bd on hosts may contribute to the survival of frogs in dry forests
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