Bounded decision-making, teachers’ reflection, and organisational learning: how research can inform teachers and teaching

Despite numerous efforts to align educational practice more closely with findings from educational research, there is little clarity about how educational practitioners can, in principle, use research. We propose a conceptualisation based on how research can contribute to practitioners’ thinking: specifically, our framework proposes that research can inform bounded decision‐making, teachers’ reflection and organisational learning. Practitioners can also use research without being aware that they are doing so. We argue that this conceptualisation of research use has potential to inform researchers and practitioner

Method for computing variances of estimates derived from the Health Interview Survey

A method for computing variances of estimates derived from the health interview survey[by Judy A. Bean].Public Health Service publication no. 1000, ser. 2, no. 38.Includes bibliographical references.1970500686

Cholesterol Levels and Activity of Membrane Bound Proteins: Characterization by Thermal and Electrochemical Methods

The long-term goal of this investigation is to study the effects of increased cholesterol levels on the molecular activity of membrane-bound enzymes such as nitric oxide synthase, that are critical in the functioning of the cardiovascular system. In this particular investigation, we used differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dielectric thermal analysis (DETA) to study the effect of added cholesterol on melting/recrystallization and dielectric behavior, respectively, of phosphatidylcholine (PC) bilayered thin films. We also used electrochemical methods to investigate the effect of added cholesterol on the redox behavior of the oxygenase domain of nitric oxide synthase as a probe embedded in the PC films. The results show that added cholesterol in the PC films seems to depress the molecular dynamics as indicated by lowered current responses in the presence of cholesterol as well as a slight increase of the transition temperature in the overall two-phase regime behavior observed in PC–cholesterol films. These results are rationalized in the context of the general DSC and DETA behaviors of the PC–chol films

Epidemiological study of gastroenteritis cases at the medical-social centre of Megara

Pnrpose: Epidemiological study of the possible causes and characteristics of gastroenteritis cases, recorded at the area of concern of the medical- social centre of Megara. Material- Method: The material of the study consisted of adults who came to the centre during the period January 2007 until December 2008 and were diagnosed with gastroenteritis. All patients with chronic inflamational bowel disease as well as patients having taken recently antibiotics were excluded. All patients came with symptoms of gastroenteritis i.e. vomits, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, debilitation

Effective theory for deformed nuclei

Techniques from effective field theory are applied to nuclear rotation. This approach exploits the spontaneous breaking of rotational symmetry and the separation of scale between low-energy Nambu-Goldstone rotational modes and high-energy vibrational and nucleonic degrees of freedom. A power counting is established and the Hamiltonian is constructed at next-to-leading order

Phylogenetic relationships among Trichodorus and Paratrichodorus species

Resumo do poster apresentado no XXVII ESN International Symposium, Rome, 2004.Trichodorid nematodes of the genera Trichodorus and Paratrichodorus are known natural vectors of Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV) to many agronomically important crops. Previous taxonomic studies have reported several trichodorids, including virus-vector species, from Portugal. The trichodorid group is well defined taxonomically but little is known regarding the molecular phylogenetic relationships of species belonging to these two genera. The aim of this study is therefore to determine the phylogenetic relationships among many of the trichodorid species occurring in continental Portugal and six non-indigenous trichodorid species, based on 18S rDNA gene sequences. A comprehensive survey for trichodorids was carried out in Portugal and ten species (five Trichodorus and five Paratrichodorus) were identified using classical taxonomy. Representative specimens from each species were selected for molecular studies. DNA was extracted from individual nematodes, a minimum of two per population, and using appropriate primer sets the 18S rDNA gene was isolated and subsequently sequenced. The 18S rDNA gene from six non-indigenous trichodorid species was also sequenced. A multiple sequence alignment was produced and used as a basis of a Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic analysis. With one exception, the resultant phylogenetic tree clearly separated both genera and species into groups that agree with currently accepted taxonomy of the Trichodoridae. However, populations of P. minor appeared more closely associated with Trichodorus species than other Paratrichodorus species

Molecular diagnosis of Trichodorus and Paratrichodorus species

Some trichodorid species are known to vector specific strains of Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV) that have a deleterious effect upon several economically important crops, e.g. potato and tobacco. Given the complex relationship that exists between trichodorids and the various TRV strains, it is imperative that a rapid and accurate identification to species level is achieved for the effective use of control measures within a crop husbandry regime. Morphological identification is sometimes subjective and requires well-trained specialists. Furthermore, there is a decline in the taxonomic skill-base of a number of invertebrate groups, including nematodes, within Europe. The present study reports the application of a PCR-RFLP method that explores the variability of the 18S rDNA gene to robustly discriminate trichodorid species belonging to Trichodorus and Paratrichodorus. A PCR product, 614 bp in length, located at the 3’ end of the 18S rDNA gene was digested with seven restriction enzymes that generated patterns that were both consistent among populations of the same species and yet discriminated trichodorids at the species level. The proposed protocol was tested with eleven trichodorid species from Portugal and six non-indigenous trichodorid species and proved to be effective

Exploring directional and fluctuating asymmetry in the human palate during growth

open24siObjectives: Palate morphology is constantly changing throughout an individual's lifespan, yet its asymmetry during growth is still little understood. In this research, we focus on the study of palate morphology by using 3D geometric morphometric approaches to observe changes at different stages of life, and to quantify the impact of directional and fluctuating asymmetry on different areas at different growth stages. Materials and Methods: The sample consists of 183 individuals (1–72 years) from two identified human skeletal collections of 19th and early 20th Century Italian contexts. A 3D-template of 41 (semi)landmarks was applied on digital palate models to observe morphological variation during growth. Results: Asymmetrical components of the morphological structure appears multidirectional on the entire palate surface in individuals <2 years old and become oriented (opposite bilateral direction) between 2 and 6 years of age. Specifically, directional asymmetry differentially impacts palate morphology at different stages of growth. Both the anterior and posterior palate are affected by mild alterations in the first year of life, while between 2 and 6 years asymmetry is segregated in the anterior area, and moderate asymmetry affects the entire palatal surface up to 12 years of age. Our results show that stability of the masticatory system seems to be reached around 13–35 years first by females and then males. From 36 years on both sexes show similar asymmetry on the anterior area. Regarding fluctuating asymmetry, inter-individual variability is mostly visible up to 12 years of age, after which only directional trends can be clearly observed at a group level. Discussion: Morphological structure appears instable during the first year of life and acquires an opposite asymmetric bilateral direction between 2 and 6 years of age. This condition has been also documented in adults; when paired with vertical alteration, anterior/posterior asymmetry seems to characterize palate morphology, which is probably due to mechanical factors during the lifespan. Fluctuating asymmetry is predominant in the first period of life due to a plausible relationship with the strength of morphological instability of the masticatory system. Directional asymmetry, on the other hand, shows that the patterning of group-level morphological change might be explained as a functional response to differential inputs (physiological forces, nutritive and non-nutritive habits, para-masticatory activity as well as the development of speech) in different growth stages. This research has implications with respect to medical and evolutionary fields. In medicine, palate morphology should be considered when planning orthodontic and surgical procedures as it could affect the outcome. As far as an evolutionary perspective is concerned the dominance of directional asymmetries in the masticatory system could provide information on dietary and cultural habits as well as pathological conditions in our ancestors.embargoed_20220511Oxilia G.; Menghi Sartorio J.C.; Bortolini E.; Zampirolo G.; Papini A.; Boggioni M.; Martini S.; Marciani F.; Arrighi S.; Figus C.; Marciani G.; Romandini M.; Silvestrini S.; Pedrosi M.E.; Mori T.; Riga A.; Kullmer O.; Sarig R.; Fiorenza L.; Giganti M.; Sorrentino R.; Belcastro M.G.; Cecchi J.M.; Benazzi S.Oxilia G.; Menghi Sartorio J.C.; Bortolini E.; Zampirolo G.; Papini A.; Boggioni M.; Martini S.; Marciani F.; Arrighi S.; Figus C.; Marciani G.; Romandini M.; Silvestrini S.; Pedrosi M.E.; Mori T.; Riga A.; Kullmer O.; Sarig R.; Fiorenza L.; Giganti M.; Sorrentino R.; Belcastro M.G.; Cecchi J.M.; Benazzi S