Lauching Geographic Education in to the 21st Century : The View from the United States.

La géographie scolaire aux États-Unis a connu une résurgence sans précédent au cours des deux dernières décennies. Il y a plusieurs raisons à ce renouveau de la discipline, parmi lesquelles un fort taux d'« analphabétisme géographique » chez les élèves, solidement documenté, qui a soulevé le courroux des politiciens, des parents et des géographes (The Gallop Organization, 1988). Cet article examine la façon dont la réforme éducative a fait face aux difficultés auxquelles est confrontée la discipline à l'aube du nouveau millénaire. Pour parvenir à régler ces difficultés, il fallait imprimer à la géographie scolaire des modifications qui se sont déroulées en trois phases : 1) la prise de conscience des problèmes auxquels fait face la discipline; 2) l'élaboration de normes nationales en matière de contenu, afin de guider l'enseignement de la discipline; et 3) l'évaluation par État et à l'échelle nationale des résultats obtenus par les élèves et des initiatives enseignantes en géographie. Les auteurs discutent de l'importance de chacune de ces trois phases dans le contexte de la géographie scolaire aux États-Unis.Geographic education in the United States has experienced an unprecedented resurgence in the schools during the past two decades. There are several compelling reasons for a revival of the discipline, among them a thoroughly documented level of geographic illiteracy in the school age population that raised the ire of politicians, parents, and geographers alike (The Gallop Organization, 1988). This paper discusses the way that educational reform has addressed the problems facing geographic education on the eve of the new millennium. A successful approach to the issues necessitated being able to move geography education forward in three phases. They were: 1) awareness of the problems facing the discipline; 2) the development of rigorous content standards to guide geography education nationally, and 3) national and state assessments of student performance in geography and teacher preparation initiatives. The significance of each of the three phases is discussed within the context of geographic education within the United States

Randomized Trial of Artesunate+Amodiaquine, Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine+Amodiaquine, Chlorproguanal-Dapsone and SP for Malaria in Pregnancy in Tanzania

Malaria in pregnancy is serious, and drug resistance in Africa is spreading. Drugs have greater risks in pregnancy and determining the safety and efficacy of drugs in pregnancy is therefore a priority. This study set out to determine the efficacy and safety of several antimalarial drugs and combinations in pregnant women with uncomplicated malaria.Pregnant women with non-severe, slide proven, falciparum malaria were randomised to one of 4 regimes: sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine [SP]; chlorproguanil-dapsone [CD]; SP+amodiaquine [SP+AQ] or amodiaquine+artesunate [AQ+AS]. Randomisation was on a 1ratio2ratio2ratio2 ratio. Women were admitted for treatment, and followed at days 7, 14, 21, 28 after the start of treatment, at delivery and 6 weeks after delivery to determine adverse events, clinical and parasitological outcomes. Primary outcome was parasitological failure by day 28.1433 pregnant women were screened, of whom 272 met entry criteria and were randomised; 28 to SP, 81 to CD, 80 to SP+AQ and 83 to AQ+AS. Follow-up to day 28 post treatment was 251/272 (92%), and to 6 weeks following delivery 91%. By day 28 parasitological failure rates were 4/26 (15%, 95%CI 4-35) in the SP, 18/77 (23%, 95%CI 14-34) in the CD, 1/73 (1% 95%CI 7-0.001) in the SP+AQ and 7/75 (9% 95%CI 4-18) in the AQ+AS arms respectively. After correction by molecular markers for reinfection the parasitological failure rates at day 28 were 18% for CD, 1% for SP+AQ and 4.5% for AQ+AS. There were two maternal deaths during the trial. There was no apparent excess of stillbirths or adverse birth outcomes in any arm. Parasitological responses were strikingly better in pregnant women than in children treated with the same drugs at this site.Failure rates with monotherapy were unacceptably high. The two combinations tested were efficacious and appeared safe. It should not be assumed that efficacy in pregnancy is the same as in children.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00146731

Assessing the impact of a construction virtual reality game on design review skills of construction student

Being able to perform an effective design review is a fundamental skill that every design or construction student should possess. Performing a design review requires critical thinking, analysis, and communication skills. To support the acquisition of these skills, this study investigated the impact of a virtual reality game, the design review simulator (DRS), in a classroom environment. To assess the impact of the game, the authors performed a crossover experiment with 120 students. The students were split into groups and were asked to perform design reviews in two treatment conditions, 2D drawings or the DRS. A knowledge test was administered at the end of different treatments to collect quantitative data on the students’ performance. Results from this research indicate that the DRS supported students in identifying a higher number of design mistakes. Furthermore, students that played with the DRS after performing 2D drawings reviews scored significantly higher in the knowledge test. The research results contribute to the growing knowledge base on the implementation of VR in the classroom and in supporting students in meeting learning objectives related to design review skills. In particular, the research illustrated that the benefits of VR found in the construction industry in terms of improved communication, user involvement, and feedback collection could be translated into the classroom environment

Atorvastatin and flaxseed effects on biochemical indices and hepatic fat of NAFLD model in rats

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common forms of chronic liver disease that affects about 25% of the general population. No definitive treatment for NAFLD has been identified yet. The aim was to determine the effect of atorvastatin (ATO) and flaxseed on related indicators of NAFLD-induced fat/fructose-enriched diet (FFD). Materials and Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups. NAFLD groups received FFD and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) to induce NAFLD. After intervention with ATO (10 mg/kg/day) and/or flaxseed (7.5 g/kg/day), liver enzymes and lipid profiles in serum were determined at eight week of interventions. Results: Triglycerides (TG) and cholesterol (CHO) in FFD + ATO, FFD + flaxseed, and FFD + ATO + flaxseed had a significant decrease and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level and LDL/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio showed a significant increase in the FFD + flaxseed compared to the FFD. The levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) were significantly reduced in the FFD + ATO, FFD + flaxseed, and the FFD + ATO + flaxseed. In addition, Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were significantly different between normal and FFD. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels were significantly different in the FFD + flaxseed and the FFD + ATO + flaxseed compared to the FFD. Conclusion: ATO therapy along with flaxseed controls NAFLD-related indices and FBS. Therefore, it can be stated with caution that ATO and flaxseed can be used to improve lipid profile and reduce the complications of NAFLD

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in African population: epidemiology and management challenges.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is a growing concern worldwide; while there has been a greatimprovement in the knowledge, epidemiology and management of this condition in the developed worlds,there has been little or no improvement in sub-Saharan Africa. The true burden of this disease is not evenknown, but a difference in the pattern and outcome of T1DM in the sub-Saharan Africa compared to thewestern World seems to be present. Moreover, much of the available data is not population-based and is oflimited value for making generalizations about Diabetes in children of Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the limitations,there is evidence that these populations may be important for studying the aetiology and natural historyof Type 1 diabetes. Effective management and/or prevention of diabetes and its complications in Sub-Saharan African children should adopt multidisciplinary approaches. In order to improve care for diabetespatients in developing countries, specialized clinics need to be established. (www.actabiomedica.it