Teaching Reflective Writing: Thoughts on Developing a Reflective Writing Framework to Support Teacher Candidates

To achieve licensure in the United States, many teacher candidates must demonstrate competency as reflective practitioners. This requires many of them to describe their experiences through reflective writing, a mode of writing that is far from the academic writing that is taught throughout their baccalaureate education. Much reflective writing is being assigned to teacher candidates without it being taught. In an effort to intervene in that pattern, the authors examined multiple sources and developed a framework to teach to their teacher candidates to support them to communicate their practices as effective, reflective practitioners. This paper documents the evolution of creating a framework for teacher candidates to effectively write in a reflective mode

Precision measurements of Linear Scattering Density using Muon Tomography

We demonstrate that muon tomography can be used to precisely measure the properties of various materials. The materials which have been considered have been extracted from an experimental blast furnace, including carbon (coke) and iron oxides, for which measurements of the linear scattering density relative to the mass density have been performed with an absolute precision of 10%. We report the procedures that are used in order to obtain such precision, and a discussion is presented to address the expected performance of the technique when applied to heavier materials. The results we obtain do not depend on the specific type of material considered and therefore they can be extended to any application.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure

Effects of training on reticulated reactive platelets and erytrocyte fragments in patients with peripheral atherosclerosis.

Background: training is a documented effective treatment in patients affected from peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Platelet activation plays a pivotal role in atherosclerosis progression and cardiovascular events. Reticulated platelets (IPF) reflects activity of bone marrow , recently they have been associated to cardiovascular complications and atherosclerosis with unstable conditions (e.g. acute coronary syndrome). Presence of a width blood red cell distribution is considered recently as a prognostic factor for coronary artery disease, a high RDW value depends greatly on presence of red blood cells fragmentation (FRC); this parameter may depend on different conditions such as inflammation, and oxidation and is connected with different risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes. Few data can be found for patients with peripheral arterial disease on training. We aimed to evaluate the effects of aerobic training on IPF and FRC at rest and after maximal walking exercise before and after training. Methods and Results: we enrolled 12 patients with intermittent claudication. They were submitted to a 15 days aerobic training period (cycling and treadmill exercise under maximal walking capacity). IPF, MPV, PLT count and FRC were analyzed at rest, 1 hour after maximal treadmill test and after 24 hours, these evaluations were performed at the beginning and at the end of the training period. The Lab parameters were analyzed with impedentiometry, fluorimetry (oxazyne) and optical methods (Sysmex Xn-1000, Sysmex Corporation, Kobe, Japan). Walking distance was measured with treadmill (3,2 km/h, 2-10% slope), maximal test was prolonged to the maximal tolerated claudication pain. Platelets count was within normal range (216,9 \ub1 40 109/l ) and did not changed throughout the study; also MPV was unchanged (11,6\ub11,9 vs 11.45\ub10,8 fl ) before and after the training ; plateletcrit was slightly reduced (0,246\ub10,061 vs 0,282 \ub10,018 %). IPF count (figure) slightly changed during maximal stress at the beginning of training with increase after 24 hours; after training the count decreased significantly (*p<0,05) at rest and 1 hour after, while it increased significantly after 24 hours (** p<0,05 vs rest ad vs 24 h-pre) but less than before training. FRC decreased after triaining (0,381\ub10,121 vs 0,542\ub10,220 %; p<0,05), maximal test slightly increased FRC after 1 hour , no significant change after 24 hours. At the end of training, absolute walking distance increased (450\ub1180 vs 250\ub1108 m; p<0,05). Discussion: training reduces IPF in patients with peripheral arterial disease, IPF increase after acute maximal test and this phenomenon can be attenuated by training. We also observed a reduction in FRC. Presence of FRC in these patients may be caused by mechanical forces throughout a large surface of atherosclerotic plaques fragmenting red cells, ischemia reperfusion in claudication is another mechanism that can elicit formation of FRC and in addition high oxidative stress may contribute. IPF are associated with an increase platelets activity and a higher turnover; in this pathology both these condition can be found associated with oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Training improves oxidation, inflammation and endothelium function with favorable effects on platelets activation and turnover, furthermore these parameters may influence also FRC count. Conclusion: training in PAD patients reduces IPF and FRC with potential improvement in risk profile for atherosclerosis progression and reduction of cardiovascular events. References: 1. Cesari F, Marcucci R, Gori AM, et al . Reticulated platelets predict cardiovascular death in acute coronary syndrome patients. Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2013; 109: 846-853. 2. Hoffmann JJ . Reticulated platelets: analytical aspects and clinical utility. Clin Chem Lab. 2014; 52: 1107-17. 3. Bujak K, Wasilewski J, Osadnik T, et al. Prognostic role of red blood cell distribution width in coronary artery disease: a review of the pathophysiology. Disease Markers 2015, vol 1 ; 1-12

Noise reduction in muon tomography for detecting high density objects

The muon tomography technique, based on multiple Coulomb scattering of cosmic ray muons, has been proposed as a tool to detect the presence of high density objects inside closed volumes. In this paper a new and innovative method is presented to handle the density fluctuations (noise) of reconstructed images, a well known problem of this technique. The effectiveness of our method is evaluated using experimental data obtained with a muon tomography prototype located at the Legnaro National Laboratories (LNL) of the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN). The results reported in this paper, obtained with real cosmic ray data, show that with appropriate image filtering and muon momentum classification, the muon tomography technique can detect high density materials, such as lead, albeit surrounded by light or medium density material, in short times. A comparison with algorithms published in literature is also presented

Estudio preliminar de algunas variables de crecimiento y fertilidad en ratones de Bioterio

 In the present work, the results obtained in the comparative study of the growth and fertility of Balb/C and CF-1 mice from the Bioterium of the Faculty of Medicine of the National University of the Northeast are exposed, by modifying the environmental conditions of breeding and reproduction of the animals before and after the moving of the Center to its new facilities. The characteristics studied in both strains were: breeding number, weight according to sex before and after weaning, until to the 15th week of life, and fertility rate. The results obtained show that the moving caused stress in both murine strains, and the effect was manifested in the decrease of growth and fertility rates observed in the animals. These values were not statistically significant, which allows us to conclude that the enrichment of the habitat in the new facilities helped to alleviate in some way the stress of the move. This is the first systematic study carried out for this purpose and lays the foundations for others for monitoring the adaptation and production in the new facilities.En el presente trabajo se exponen los resultados obtenidos en el estudio comparativo del crecimiento y la fertilidad de ratones Balb/C y CF-1 del Bioterio de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, al modificar las condiciones ambientales de cría y reproducción de los animales previa y posteriormente al traslado del Centro a sus nuevas instalaciones. Las características estudiadas en ambas cepas fueron: número de crías, peso según sexo previo y posterior al destete, hasta la semana 15 de vida y tasa de fertilidad. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que el traslado causó estrés en ambas cepas murinas, cuyo efecto se manifestó en la disminución de las tasas de crecimiento y fertilidad en estos animales experimentales. Estos valores resultaron no significativos estadísticamente, lo que nos permite concluir que el enriquecimiento del hábitat en las nuevas instalaciones ayudó a paliar de alguna manera el estrés de la mudanza. Este es el primer estudio sistemático realizado a este efecto y sienta las bases de otros para el seguimiento de la adaptación y producción en las nuevas instalaciones

Mast cells infiltrating inflamed or transformed gut alternatively sustain mucosal healing or tumor growth

Mast cells (MC) are immune cells located next to the intestinal epithelium with regulatory function in maintaining the homeostasis of the mucosal barrier. We have investigated MC activities in colon inflammation and cancer in mice either wildtype (WT) or MC-deficient (KitW-sh) reconstituted or not with bone marrow-derived MCs. Colitis was chemically induced with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Tumors were induced by administering azoxymethane (AOM) intraperitoneally before DSS. Following DSS withdrawal, KitW-sh mice showed reduced weight gain and impaired tissue repair compared with their WT littermates or KitW-sh mice reconstituted with bone marrowderived MCs. MCs were localized in areas of mucosal healing rather than damaged areas where they degraded IL33, an alarmin released by epithelial cells during tissue damage. KitW-sh mice reconstituted with MC deficient for mouse mast cell protease 4 did not restore normal mucosal healing or reduce efficiently inflammation after DSS withdrawal. In contrast with MCs recruited during inflammation-associated wound healing, MCs adjacent to transformed epithelial cells acquired a protumorigenic profile. In AOM- and DSS-treated WT mice, high MC density correlated with high-grade carcinomas. In similarly treated KitW-sh mice, tumors were less extended and displayed lower histologic grade. Our results indicate that the interaction of MCs with epithelial cells is dependent on the inflammatory stage, and on the activation of the tissue repair program. Selective targeting of MCs for prevention or treatment of inflammation-associated colon cancer should be timely pondered to allow tissue repair at premalignant stages or to reduce aggressiveness at the tumor stage

Microwave driven synthesis of narrow bandgap alpha-tin nanoparticles on silicon

This work proposes a microwave-based synthetic route for the preparation of tin nanospheres with a diamond-like a-phase structure on silicon. The main characteristics of the synthesized material are an extraordinarily narrow (around 50 meV) direct bandgap and an improved thermal stability (up to 200° C). Structural and compositional characterizations showed a core–shell structure comprised of an outer amorphous oxide shell and inner core containing a-phase tin domains. Microwaves turned out to be instrumental in achieving the specific nanostructures reported, due to their peculiar heating characteristics. Low pressure, low temperature and compatibility with integrated circuits manufacturing represent the most innovative features of the present synthetic process

Male breast cancer

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease representing less than 1% of all breast cancers (BC) and less than 1% of cancers in men. Age at presentation is mostly in the late 60s. MBC is recognized as an estrogen-driven disease, specifically related to hyperestrogenism. About 20% of MBC patients have family history for BC. Mutations in BRCA1 and, predominantly, BRCA2, account for approximately 10% of MBC cases. Because of its rarity, MBC is often compared with female BC (FBC). Based on age-frequency distribution, age-specific incidence rate patterns and prognostic factors profiles, MBC is considered similar to late-onset, postmenopausal estrogen/progesterone receptor positive (ER+/PR+) FBC. However, clinical and pathological characteristics of MBC do not exactly overlap FBC. Compared with FBC, MBC has been reported to occur later in life, present at a higher stage, and display lower histologic grade, with a higher proportion of ER+ and PR+ tumors. Although rare, MBC remains a substantial cause for morbidity and mortality in men, probably because of its occurrence in advanced age and delayed diagnosis. Diagnosis and treatment of MBC generally is similar to that of FBC. Men tend to be treated with mastectomy rather than breast-conserving surgery. The backbone of adjuvant therapy or palliative treatment for advanced disease is endocrine, mostly tamoxifen. Use of FBC-based therapy led to the observation that treatment outcomes for MBC are worse and that survival rates for MBC do not improve like FBC. These different outcomes may suggest a non-appropriate utilization of treatments and that different underlying pathogenetic mechanisms may exist between male and female BC

Improvement of patient-reported outcomes in severe allergic asthma by omalizumab treatment : the real life observational PROXIMA study

Background: Data on the prevalence of perennial versus seasonal allergic asthma in Italy are lacking; moreover, there is limited evidence on the effect of omalizumab on patient-reported outcomes in Italian patients with severe allergic asthma. PROXIMA, an observational, multicenter study, was designed to assess the prevalence of perennial versus seasonal allergic asthma (cross-sectional phase) and the effect of omalizumab on improving illness perception, quality of life (QoL) and asthma control of Italian patients with severe allergic asthma (longitudinal phase). Methods: The study included a cross-sectional phase (n = 357) and a longitudinal phase (n = 123): during the longitudinal phase, patients received omalizumab (75-600 mg subcutaneously every month) and were followed-up for 12 months. The primary parameter of cross-sectional phase was prevalence of perennial allergic asthma and that of longitudinal phase was proportion of patients with asthma control (assessed using asthma control questionnaire [ACQ]). Secondary parameters assessed were patients' disease perception, level of asthma control, exacerbation rate during both cross-sectional and longitudinal phases, and patients' compliance to and persistence with omalizumab, and patients' QoL during the longitudinal phase. Results: Most patients (95.8%) had perennial allergies; 81% had polysensitization. Of 99 patients in the per-protocol set, 95 (95.96% [95% CI: 89.98-98.89%]) achieved asthma control (ACQ < 4) at both 6 and 12 months of omalizumab treatment; ACQ score decreased after 6 and 12 months (P < 0.0001). Omalizumab treatment resulted in a significant improvement in QoL and patients' illness perception and 87% decrease in exacerbation rate. The compliance rate with omalizumab was high (73.2%). No new safety signals were identified during treatment. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that in severe allergic asthma, omalizumab improves patient-reported outcomes such as patients' illness perception and QoL, while confirming improvement of asthma control and exacerbation rate reduction in Italian patients

Caracterização isoenzimática de alguns isolados do gênero Agaricus da coleção de culturas da Embrapa Florestas.

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