On metaphors in thinking about preparing mathematics for teaching

This paper explores how different schools of thought in mathematics education think and speak about preparing mathematics for teaching by introducing and proposing certain metaphors. Among the metaphors under consideration here are the unpacking metaphor, which finds its origin in the Anglo-American school of thought of pedagogical reduction of mathematics; the elementarization metaphor, which has its origin in the German school of thought of didactic reconstruction of mathematics; and the recontextualization metaphor, which originates in the French school of thought of didactic transposition. The metaphorical language used in these schools of thought is based on different theoretical positions, orientations, and images of preparing mathematics for teaching. Although these metaphors are powerful and allow for different ways of thinking and speaking about preparing mathematics for teaching, they suggest that preparing mathematics for teaching is largely a one-sided process in the sense of an adaptation of the knowledge in question. To promote a more holistic understanding, an alternative metaphor is offered: preparing mathematics for teaching as ecological engineering. By using the ecological engineering metaphor, the preparation of mathematics for teaching is presented as a two-sided process that involves both the adaptation of knowledge and the modification of its environment

Vitamin D Levels and Lipid Response to Atorvastatin

Adequate vitamin D levels are necessary for good vascular health. 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol activates CYP3A4, an enzyme of the cytochrome P450 system, which metabolizes atorvastatin to its main metabolites. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of cholesterol and triglycerides to atorvastatin according to vitamin D levels. Sixty-three patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with low and high doses of atorvastatin were included. Levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol were measured at baseline and at 12 months of follow-up. Baseline levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) were classified as deficient (<30 nmol/L), insufficient (30–50 nmol/L), and normal (>50 nmol/L). In patients with 25-OHD <30 nmol/L, there were no significant changes in levels of total cholesterol (173 ± 47 mg/dL versus 164 ± 51 mg/dL), triglycerides (151 ± 49 mg/dL versus 177 ± 94 mg/dL), and LDL cholesterol (111 ± 48 mg/dL versus 92 45 ± mg/dL); whereas patients with insufficient (30–50 nmol/L) and normal vitamin D (>50 nmol/L) had a good response to atorvastatin. We suggest that vitamin D concentrations >30 nmol/L may be required for atorvastatin to reduce lipid levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Los aspectos patrimoniales en la educación primaria en la nueva reforma educativa de Andalucía (España)

Los actuales cambios socioculturales están configurando la nueva sociedad del conocimiento y las tecnologías, el sistema educativo tiene que adaptarse a esta nueva realidad. El gobierno español aprobó en 2006 la LOE (Ley Orgánica de Educación), que pretende ser el referente para el desarrollo de todos los diseños curriculares en el territorio hispano. Andalucía, Comunidad autónoma al sur de España, con competencias plenas en materia educativa, ya tiene su propia ley, la LEA (Ley de Educación de Andalucía), adaptada a su propia realidad sociocultural a partir de la ley nacional. En esta investigación se analizan los aspectos referentes al Patrimonio Cultural en la actual reforma educativa andaluza en la etapa de Educación Primaria que está en proceso de implantación. La presencia curricular de los aspectos patrimoniales ha venido siendo casi inapreciable en anteriores desarrollos legislativos en lo que respecta a esta etapa educativa. Su presencia en el currículo, es una necesidad, sobre todo en el trabajo con niños tan pequeños, teniendo en cuenta que el desarrollo económico de Andalucía tiene su base en la agricultura y en el turismo, ambos sectores precisan que, desde la escuela, se formen ciudadanos que apuesten por una visión de futuro en beneficio de la sociedad. El desarrollo de una educación patrimonial en los diferentes sectores educativos, será la garantía para la sostenibilidad del territorio

AMMO-Prot: amine system project 3D-model finder

BACKGROUND: Amines are biogenic amino acid derivatives, which play pleiotropic and very important yet complex roles in animal physiology. For many other relevant biomolecules, biochemical and molecular data are being accumulated, which need to be integrated in order to be effective in the advance of biological knowledge in the field. For this purpose, a multidisciplinary group has started an ontology-based system named the Amine System Project (ASP) for which amine-related information is the validation bench. RESULTS: In this paper, we describe the Ontology-Based Mediator developed in the Amine System Project (http://asp.uma.es) using the infrastructure of Semantic Directories, and how this system has been used to solve a case related to amine metabolism-related protein structures. CONCLUSIONS: This infrastructure is used to publish and manage not only ontologies and their relationships, but also metadata relating to the resources committed with the ontologies. The system developed is available at http://asp.uma.es/WebMediator

Improved regeneration and de novo bone formation in a diabetic zebrafish model treated with paricalcitol and cinacalcet

Bone changes related to diabetes have been well stablished, but few strategies have been developed to prevent this growing health problem. In our work, we propose to investigate the effects of calcitriol as well as of a vitamin D analog (paricalcitol) and a calcimimetic (cinacalcet), in fin regeneration and de novo mineralization in a zebrafish model of diabetes. Following exposure of diabetic transgenic Tg(ins: nfsb-mCherry) zebrafish to calcitriol, paricalcitol and cinacalcet, caudal fins were amputated to assess their effects on tissue regeneration. Caudal fin mineralized and regenerated areas were quantified by in vivo alizarin red staining. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed using RNA from the vertebral column. Diabetic fish treated with cinacalcet and paricalcitol presented increased regenerated and mineralized areas when compared with non-treated diabetic group, while no significant increase was observed in nondiabetic fish treated with both drugs. Gene expression analysis showed an up-regulation for runt-related transcription factor 2b (runx2b), bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein (bglap), insulin a (insa) and insulin b (insb) and a trend of increase for sp7 transcription factor (sp7) in diabetic groups treated with cinacalcet and paricalcitol. Expression of insra and vdra was up-regulated in both diabetic and nondiabetic fish treated with cinacalcet. In nondiabetic fish treated with paricalcitol and cinacalcet a similar increase in gene expression could be observed but not so pronounced. The increased mineralization and regeneration in diabetic zebrafish treated with cinacalcet and paricalcitol can be explained by increased osteoblastic differentiation and increased insulin expression indicating pro-osteogenic potential of both drugs.European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the COMPETE-Operational Competitiveness ProgramFCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia [PEst-CCMAR/Multi/04326/2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde em espanholas com osteoporose

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the health-related quality of life in patients with osteoporosis and to compare it with the overall population. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with 60 female patients of the rheumatology service at a university hospital, in Spain, from April to October 2003. The Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire was applied in order to obtain demographic data, clinical characteristics and data about lifestyles related to health. Patients were classified in age groups. The statistics tests performed were Chi-square, general linear model, Student's t-test. RESULTS: The interviewees' average age was 65.57 years old (SD: &plusmn;9.7 years), and average time interval for diagnosis was 3.4&plusmn;2.84 years. The best scores were in social functioning (89), emotional aspects (72.2), mental health (63), and vitality (53.7). The lowest scores were in general health (45.1), physical capacity (47.7), pain (52.3) and physical aspects (59.9). The patients' average scores were lower than the general Spanish population's scores in the following dimensions: functional capacity, physical aspects, pain and overall health status. The greatest differences between the average SF-36 scores for patients and for the overall Spanish population were in the age group ranging from 55 to 64 years old. Scores were lower or similar to the general Spanish population in all other dimensions of the questionnaire. No significant associations were found between the dimensions of the SF-36 contemplated in this study and the clinical, demographic and lifestyle data. CONCLUSIONS: The patients presented bad quality of life, particularly with respect to those dimensions that are most relevant with respect to osteoporosis, when compared with the overall Spanish population. The physical dimensions were the ones most affected.OBJETIVO: Analisar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde de pacientes com osteoporose e compará-la com a população geral. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo descritivo transversal com 60 pacientes do sexo feminino no serviço de reumatologia de um hospital universitário na Espanha, de abril a outubro de 2003. Foi aplicado o questionário Short Form-36, abordando dados demográficos, características clínicas e dados sobre estilos de vida relacionados à saúde. As pacientes foram classificadas em grupos etários. Foram utilizados os seguintes testes estatísticos: qui-quadrado, modelo linear geral, t de Student. RESULTADOS: As entrevistadas tinham idade média de 65,57 (DP: &plusmn;9,7 anos), e tempo de diagnóstico médio de 3,4&plusmn;2,84 anos. As melhores pontuações foram obtidas nas dimensões aspectos sociais (89), aspectos emocionais (72,2) e saúde mental (63). As mais baixas foram em estado geral de saúde (45,1), capacidade funcional (47,7), dor (52,3) e aspectos físicos (59,9). As pontuações médias dos pacientes resultaram inferiores às pontuações conhecidas da população geral espanhola nas dimensões capacidade funcional, aspectos físicos, dor e estado geral de saúde. As máximas diferenças entre as pontuações médias do SF-36 dos pacientes e os valores populacionais espanhóis correspondem ao grupo de idade de 55 a 64 anos. Nas demais dimensões do SF-36, as pontuações foram inferiores ou similares aos valores populacionais espanhóis. Não se encontraram associações significativas entre as dimensões do SF-36 estudadas e os dados clínicos, demográficos e de estilos de vida analisados. CONCLUSÕES: Os pacientes apresentaram baixa qualidade de vida, sobretudo nas dimensões mais relevantes da enfermidade, quando comparada com valores da população espanhola em geral. As áreas físicas foram as mais afetadas

Association of aromatase and estrogen receptor gene polymorphisms with hip fractures

Producción CientíficaSummary Two polymorphisms of the aromatase and estrogen receptor genes appeared to interact to influence the risk of hip fractures in women. Introduction Allelic variants of the aromatase gene have been associated with bone mineral density and vertebral fractures. Our objective was to analyze the relationship between two polymorphisms of the aromatase and estrogen receptor genes and hip fracture

Estudio comparativo del crecimiento pre-destete y pruebas de comportamiento en cruces de Cebú Cubano con Charolaise y Simmenthal

A pre and post weaning study was carried out at “Rescate de Sanguily” Genetic Enterprise. The purpose of this research was to assess the productive behaviour of the different breeds or crossbreeds, as well as, to determine the influence of other non genetic factors on such behaviour. The sample taken consisted on 648 animals born between 1982 and 1996. The features chosen for the study were: birthweight, weaning weight, daily average profit and weaning, final weight, total profit, daily average profit in the test and weight per age. Four lineal models of fixed effects were used for the different factors and stages of the study. The variation causes included in the models for the different stages were: breed or crossbreed, period of birth and weaning or beginning of the test, year of birth and year of the beginning of the test, number of births, age at birth and the covariables: weight at the beginning of the test, and weight at birth, and interaction among some of the factors being studied. There was a greater determination in the weaning period compared to the features at birth whereas the crossbreeds obtained the best pre and post weaning due to the effects of the heterosis and a greater environment resistance and adaptation capacity. The analysis of the differences or tendencies among the periods and years studied, showed the management instability and the irregularities in the resource distribution.Con el objetivo de evaluar el comportamiento productivo de las diferentes razas o cruces utilizados en la Empresa Genética "Rescate de Sanguily", así como, determinar la influencia de otros factores no genéticos que influyen sobre dicho comportamiento; se realizó un estudio pre y post-destete con 648 animales nacidos entre 1982 y 1996. Los rasgos escogidos para el estudio son: peso al nacer (PN), peso al destete (PD), ganancia media diaria y pre-destete, peso final en prueba de comportamiento(PF), ganancia total en prueba de comportamiento (GTP), ganancia media diaria en la prueba (GMDP) y peso por edad (PPE). Se utilizaron 4 modelos lineales de efectos fijos para los distinto factores y etapas de estudio. Las causas de variación incluidas en los modelos para las distintas etapas fueron: raza o cruce (4), época de nacimiento y de destete o entrada a la prueba de comportamiento (6), año de nacimiento y de entrada a la prueba (15), número de partos (11), edad al parto (12) y las covariables peso al nacer (PN) y peso inicio prueba (PI) e interacciones entre algunos de los factores en estudio. El R2 de los modelos mostró una mayor determinación en la etapa post-destete en comparación con los rasgos al nacer, mientras que los cruzamientos obtuvieron los mejores resultados pre y post-destete debido al efecto de la heterosis y la mayor capacidad de adaptación y resistencia al medio. El análisis de las diferencias o tendencias entre épocas y años estudiados evidenció la inestabilidad del manejo y las irregularidades en la distribución de los recursos

Clinical Study Vitamin D Levels and Lipid Response to Atorvastatin

Adequate vitamin D levels are necessary for good vascular health. 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol activates CYP3A4, an enzyme of the cytochrome P450 system, which metabolizes atorvastatin to its main metabolites. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of cholesterol and triglycerides to atorvastatin according to vitamin D levels. Sixty-three patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with low and high doses of atorvastatin were included. Levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol were measured at baseline and at 12 months of follow-up. Baseline levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) were classified as deficient (&lt;30 nmol/L), insufficient (30-50 nmol/L), and normal (&gt;50 nmol/L). In patients with 25-OHD &lt; 30 nmol/L, there were no significant changes in levels of total cholesterol (173 ± 47 mg/dL versus 164 ± 51 mg/dL), triglycerides (151 ± 49 mg/dL versus 177 ± 94 mg/dL), and LDL cholesterol (111 ± 48 mg/dL versus 92 45± mg/dL); whereas patients with insufficient (30-50 nmol/L) and normal vitamin D (&gt;50 nmol/L) had a good response to atorvastatin. We suggest that vitamin D concentrations &gt;30 nmol/L may be required for atorvastatin to reduce lipid levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction