How Covid-19 has changed language assessments in higher education: a practitioners’ view

This chapter examines the responses of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to assessment-related challenges introduced by the Covid-19 pandemic. The sudden move to online teaching and assessments required institutions to re-think their approaches to current practices and provide alternative solutions almost overnight. Our survey aimed to gather the perceptions of language teaching practitioners on how the languages sector dealt with the move to digital assessments, with particular emphasis on the delivery of online assessments, the impact on different language skills, as well as academic integrity. Results show that, whilst different institutions adopted varying practices, they seem to share similar concerns in addressing the fast-changing environment and ensure that academic integrity remains at the forefront in the move to the digital world

Effects of Two Commercial Diets on Several Reproductive Parameters in Bitches: Note One-From Estrous Cycle to Parturition

The close link between nutrition management and reproductive efficiency is well known, but there is very little data available concerning this topic in canine species. The present study aimed to compare the effect of two different diets upon the follicular period and gestation in bitches. Eighteen pluriparus medium and large size bitches were recruited and divided into control (CTR) and experimental (EX) groups and fed, respectively, with a commercial kibble diet and a specially formulated diet from two months before the expected onset of proestrus up to the end of the trial. It was possible to observe how the EX group had a better clinical presentation of the estrous phase, a higher number of ovarian follicles (p < 0.05), a lower percentage of fetal resorption (p < 0.05), and lower oxidative status, expressed by d-ROMs (p < 0.01), at the moment of pregnancy diagnosis compared to CTR group. Moreover, the EX group showed a lower fetal resorption rate and higher litter size (p < 0.05). These results highlight how a diet characterized by high protein and fat content and richer in essential fatty acids can improve reproductive performance in dogs

Effects of Two Commercial Diets on Several Reproductive Parameters in Bitches: Note Two-Lactation and Puppies' Performance

The study aimed to compare two diets, Control (CTR) and Experimental (EX) (mainly differing as regards their ingredients, energy, and protein contents) administered to medium and large-sized bitches from two months before the expected proestrus and up to 30 days after delivery on mothers’ weight, body condition score, litter size, milk quality, and puppies’ growth. No differences were found for body weight during pregnancy, even if the BCS after delivery was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in the EX group than in the CTR one. Concerning the size effect, the percentage of weight gain on the initial body weight was double in medium-sized dogs compared to large dogs (p < 0.01). The number of puppies per litter was significantly higher (p < 0.05) for the EX group compared to the CTR one. Concerning puppies’ weight, the CTR group showed a significantly (p < 0.01) higher body weight from the 21st day of life due to the significant (p < 0.01) higher daily weight gain during the suckling period. Considering the performance of bitches and puppies, both diets seem useful for these stages of their lives. In fact, after 30 days of lactation, all tested bitches showed a healthy status and both the percentage of newborns mortality and puppies’ growth kinetics fell into the normal physiological range for the species

Thrombosis of the left anterior descending artery due to compression from giant pseudoaneurysm late after a bentall operation.

BACKGROUND: A postoperative pseudoaneurysm may develop and gradually expand in the mediastinal space even late following Bentall operation for aortic root replacement, particularly in patients with dissection of the aorta. METHODS: A very large (148 mm) pseudoaneurysm originating of the right coronary ostium suture line was observed in a patient admitted with unstable angina 6 years after Bentall procedure for type A aortic dissection. Angiograms showed reduced flow in the right coronary and thrombotic subocclusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery due to extrinsic compression from the expanding mediastinal mass. RESULTS: Reoperation was performed during femoro-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass and brief period of circulatory arrest to clamp the tubular graft. After closure of the detected right coronary ostium in the tubular graft double bypass, grafting to the right coronary and LAD arteries was required. Postoperative course was uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: Close long-term follow-up after a Bentall procedure is required to minimize the risk of developing a large pseudoaneurysmal mass, in particular, after dissection of the aorta

Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma: an unusual cardiac location

We report the unusual cardiac localization of a primary low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma of the right ventricle in a 57-year-old woman. Histological examination revealed a prevalent myxoid appearance with whorling growth pattern of small or spindle cells with bland features alternating with rare more collagenous hypocellular areas with rare atypical cells. Genomic polymerase chain reaction of genomic DNA revealed the typical FUS/Creb3L2 fusion gene products typical of low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma. The tumor was surgically removed and recurred after 7 years as high-grade pleomorphic sarcoma. The patient died 6 months after the clinical manifestation of recurrence. Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma of soft tissues is a rare, distinctive variant of fibrosarcoma-typically arising in deep soft tissue of lower extremities and trunk-that rarely metastasizes. Clinically, low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma is characterized by a longer survival rate compared to other sarcomas, suggesting its consideration in the differential diagnosis of cardiac tumors with a myxoid appearance

A retrospective study of canine prostatic diseases from 2002 to 2009 at the Alfort Veterinary College in France

A retrospective study was used to investigate the incidence of prostatic diseases in a large population of dogs at Alfort Veterinary Hospital and to clarify epidemiologic features, which might be of a great help to veterinarians in managing and discriminating prostatic disorders. During the investigation period, a total of 72,300 male dogs (coming mainly from the Ile-de-France region) were registered in the Alfort Veterinary College database, and 481 of them (0.7%) were found to have prostatic disorder. The diagnosis was carried out on the basis of clinical signs and ultrasound findings. Among dogs experiencing a prostatic disorder, most frequently recorded diseases were benign prostatic hyperplasia (45.9%) and prostatitis (38.5%), followed by abscesses (7.7%), cysts (5.0%), neoplasia (2.6%), and squamous metaplasia (0.2%). Our study revealed an incidence of 0.3% of prostatic disorders observed in intact male dogs, except in the case of prostatic neoplasia. The mean age of the dogs experiencing prostatic disorders was 8.6 3.2 years. This was significantly different (P < 0.001). Large dogs were significantly more affected by prostatic disorders (P < 0.05), except for prostatic neoplasia. A breed predisposition was suspected in German Shepherd (odds ratio [OR] \ubc 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5\u20132.9), Rottweiler (OR \ubc 1.8; 95% CI: 1.2\u20132.7), American Staffordshire Terrier (OR \ubc 3.8; 95% CI: 2.5\u20135.8), Berger de Beauce (OR \ubc 3.7; 95% CI: 2.2\u20136.1), and Bernese Mountain Dog (OR \ubc 2.5; 95% CI: 1.3\u20134.7)