Una experiencia sobre el uso del foro online en cursos de algebra universitaria: una posibilidad para favorecer las competencias de comunicación y argumentación

En esta comunicación presentamos a partir de un estudio de caso, parte del análisis de una experiencia realizada con un grupo de estudiantes universitarios de matemáticas y física, que cursaron Álgebra I, II y III a través de una metodología mixta: clase formal en aula y apoyo tecnológico a través de las plataformas OSMOSIS. Nos motiva el estudio, los pocos trabajos exploratorios que hemos encontrado en cuanto al beneficio del uso específico del foro online en Álgebra universitaria, para discutir conjeturas, resolver problemas algebraicos o demostrarlos, y por la resistencia manifiesta de profesores en cuanto al uso del foro por la complejidad de la escritura simbólica formal a partir de un procesador de palabras. Ante la hipótesis, que la etapa en que comienzan los alumnos en Álgebra I, es la de transición entre el PME y el PMA (Tall, 1995, 2013), con necesidad de adquirir mayor competencia en cuanto a comunicación matemática y argumentación, hemos encontrado indicios que la variedad de lenguajes, notaciones algebraicas e instrumentos usados por los estudiantes en el foro para superar dificultades, favorece dichas competencias matemáticas y hacen que las notaciones formales resulten más significativas

Construções matemáticas com GeoGebra: além do desenho

Um aluno de idade avançada para o ano escolar que frequenta aceita participar de um projeto no qual o GeoGebra será apresentado e utilizado como ferramenta de mediação para o processo de ensino e aprendizagem de matemática. Ele apresenta baixa visão, é imediatista, gosta do caminho mais fácil e de se portar como quem necessita de muita ajuda, estabelecendo um estereótipo de dependência. Ao participar desta pesquisa-ação que visava o reconhecimento dos quadriláteros notáveis - os quais apresentam relação de pertinência com interseção, o aluno foi impulsionado a sair da zona de conforto e refletir sobre os quadriláteros disponibilizados para então reconhecer neles suas propriedades matemáticas, indo além da primeira impressão. A pesquisa qualitativa relatada neste texto é um estudo de caso. Após as atividades o aluno fez previsões e analisou erros, saindo da situação de conforto e passando para a de construção de conhecimento. Apesar de reclamar de ter que pensar muito para executar as tarefas propostas nesta pesquisa e de qualificá-la como difícil o aluno declara ter percebido que os objetos nem sempre são o que parecem à primeira vista

A política de precificação de carbono e suas interações com as políticas setoriais na América Latina

Este trabalho compreende uma análise de como a política de precificação de carbono, elemento chave na redução do processo de elevação da temperatura global, se insere na realidade da América Latina. Para tanto, no primeiro momento é feita a contextualização do problema da mudança climática na região, seguido da exposição do conceito de preço aplicado ao carbono, base teórica do trabalho, e suas formas de aplicação, realçando que tal política por si só não garante resultados eficazes. Em seguida, se aborda os obstáculos proporcionados pela dinâmica setorial e pelo direcionamento das políticas energéticas dos países da região quanto á inserção da precificação de carbono contido nas emissões de GEE. Assim, explora-se o foco da análise que é a necessidade de um pacote de políticas energéticas e climáticas para a eficiência da precificação de carbono na América Latina. Para gerar bons resultados e minimizar os impactos negativos da introdução de um preço de carbono nos países latino-americanos é demonstrada a importância do desenho bem elaborado de tal pacote, bem como dos elementos favoráveis de atuação conjunta com um preço do carbono no mesmo. Após, é explícita a questão da administração das interações ocasionadas pelo diálogo entre as políticas ao longo do tempo e apresentadas as experiências dos países latino americanos que já contam com um instrumento de precificação de carbono. Por fim, conclui-se que, apesar dos desafios que ainda precisam ser superados para uma atuação mais expressiva á favor do clima, é possível constatar uma postura favorável dos países da região em torno da mitigação da mudança climática, especialmente com a utilização da política de precificação de carbono

The P-glycoprotein Inhibitor GF120918 Modulates Ca2+-Dependent Processes and Lipid Metabolism in Toxoplasma Gondii

Up-regulation of the membrane-bound efflux pump P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is associated with the phenomenon of multidrug-resistance in pathogenic organisms, including protozoan parasites. In addition, P-gp plays a role in normal physiological processes, however our understanding of these P-gp functions remains limited. In this study we investigated the effects of the P-gp inhibitor GF120918 in Toxoplasma gondii, a model apicomplexan parasite and an important human pathogen. We found that GF120918 treatment severely inhibited parasite invasion and replication. Further analyses of the molecular mechanisms involved revealed that the P-gp inhibitor modulated parasite motility, microneme secretion and egress from the host cell, all cellular processes known to depend on Ca2+ signaling in the parasite. In support of a potential role of P-gp in Ca2+-mediated processes, immunoelectron and fluorescence microscopy showed that T. gondii P-gp was localized in acidocalcisomes, the major Ca2+ storage in the parasite, at the plasma membrane, and in the intravacuolar tubular network. In addition, metabolic labeling of extracellular parasites revealed that inhibition or down-regulation of T. gondii P-gp resulted in aberrant lipid synthesis. These results suggest a crucial role of T. gondii P-gp in essential processes of the parasite biology and further validate the potential of P-gp activity as a target for drug development

Recanalization strategies in childhood stroke in Germany

Childhood arterial ischemic stroke (CAIS) is a rare event. Diverse etiologies, risk factors, symptoms and stroke mimics hamper obtaining a fast diagnosis and implementing immediate recanalization strategies. Over a period of 3~years (2015-2017), the data of 164 pediatric patients (> 28~days of life-18~years) with a first episode of AIS were submitted to a hospital-based nationwide surveillance system for rare disorders (ESPED). We report a subgroup analysis of patients who have undergone recanalization therapy and compare these data with those of the whole group. Twenty-eight patients (17%) with a median age of 12.2~years (range 3.3-16.9) received recanalization therapy. Hemiparesis, facial weakness and speech disturbance were the main presenting symptoms. The time from onset of symptoms to confirmation of diagnosis was significantly shorter in the intervention group (4.1~h vs. 20.4~h, p ≤ 0.0001). Only in one patient occurred a minor bleed. Cardiac disease as predisposing risk factor was more common in the recanalization group. Recanalization therapies are feasible and increasingly applied in children with AIS. High awareness, timely diagnosis and a large amount of expertise may improve time to treatment and make hyperacute therapy an option for more patients

Patient-reported impact of spondyloarthritis on work disability and working life: The ATLANTIS survey

44noopenopenRamonda, Roberta; Marchesoni, Antonio; Carletto, Antonio; Bianchi, Gerolamo; Cutolo, Maurizio; Ferraccioli, Gianfranco; Fusaro, Enrico; De Vita, Salvatore; Galeazzi, Mauro; Gerli, Roberto; Matucci-Cerinic, Marco; Minisola, Giovanni; Montecucco, Carlomaurizio; Pellerito, Raffaele; Salaffi, Fausto; Paolazzi, Giuseppe; Sarzi-Puttini, Piercarlo; Scarpa, Raffaele; Bagnato, Gianfilippo; Triolo, Giovanni; Valesini, Guido; Punzi, Leonardo; Olivieri, Ignazio; Ortolan, Augusta; Lorenzin, Mariagrazia; Frallonardo, Paola; Giollo, Alessandro; Locaputo, Antonella; Paolino, Sabrina; Simone, Davide; Quartuccio, Luca; Bartoloni, Elena; Luca, Rossella De; Bartoli, Francesca; Sensi, Felice; Caporali, Roberto; Carlo, Marco Di; Roberto, Bortolotti; Atzeni, Fabiola; Costa, Luisa; Ciccia, Francesco; Perrotta, Fabio; Gilio, Michele; ATLANTIS study groupRamonda, Roberta; Marchesoni, Antonio; Carletto, Antonio; Bianchi, Gerolamo; Cutolo, Maurizio; Ferraccioli, Gianfranco; Fusaro, Enrico; De Vita, Salvatore; Galeazzi, Mauro; Gerli, Roberto; Matucci-Cerinic, Marco; Minisola, Giovanni; Montecucco, Carlomaurizio; Pellerito, Raffaele; Salaffi, Fausto; Paolazzi, Giuseppe; Sarzi-Puttini, Piercarlo; Scarpa, Raffaele; Bagnato, Gianfilippo; Triolo, Giovanni; Valesini, Guido; Punzi, Leonardo; Olivieri, Ignazio; Ortolan, Augusta; Lorenzin, Mariagrazia; Frallonardo, Paola; Giollo, Alessandro; Locaputo, Antonella; Paolino, Sabrina; Simone, Davide; Quartuccio, Luca; Bartoloni, Elena; Luca, Rossella De; Bartoli, Francesca; Sensi, Felice; Caporali, Roberto; Carlo, Marco Di; Roberto, Bortolotti; Atzeni, Fabiola; Costa, Luisa; Ciccia, Francesco; Perrotta, Fabio; Gilio, Michele; ATLANTIS study, Grou

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of diagnostic methods in adult food allergy

Food allergy has an increasing prevalence in the general population and in Italy concerns 8 % of people with allergies. The spectrum of its clinical manifestations ranges from mild symptoms up to potentially fatal anaphylactic shock. A number of patients can be diagnosed easily by the use of first- and second-level procedures (history, skin tests and allergen specific IgE). Patients with complex presentation, such as multiple sensitizations and pollen-food syndromes, frequently require a third-level approach including molecular diagnostics, which enables the design of a component-resolved sensitization profile for each patient. The use of such techniques involves specialists' and experts' skills on the issue to appropriately meet the diagnostic and therapeutic needs of patients. Particularly, educational programs for allergists on the use and interpretation of molecular diagnostics are needed

Acute Delta Hepatitis in Italy spanning three decades (1991–2019): Evidence for the effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccination campaign

Updated incidence data of acute Delta virus hepatitis (HDV) are lacking worldwide. Our aim was to evaluate incidence of and risk factors for acute HDV in Italy after the introduction of the compulsory vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 1991. Data were obtained from the National Surveillance System of acute viral hepatitis (SEIEVA). Independent predictors of HDV were assessed by logistic-regression analysis. The incidence of acute HDV per 1-million population declined from 3.2 cases in 1987 to 0.04 in 2019, parallel to that of acute HBV per 100,000 from 10.0 to 0.39 cases during the same period. The median age of cases increased from 27 years in the decade 1991-1999 to 44 years in the decade 2010-2019 (p < .001). Over the same period, the male/female ratio decreased from 3.8 to 2.1, the proportion of coinfections increased from 55% to 75% (p = .003) and that of HBsAg positive acute hepatitis tested for by IgM anti-HDV linearly decreased from 50.1% to 34.1% (p < .001). People born abroad accounted for 24.6% of cases in 2004-2010 and 32.1% in 2011-2019. In the period 2010-2019, risky sexual behaviour (O.R. 4.2; 95%CI: 1.4-12.8) was the sole independent predictor of acute HDV; conversely intravenous drug use was no longer associated (O.R. 1.25; 95%CI: 0.15-10.22) with this. In conclusion, HBV vaccination was an effective measure to control acute HDV. Intravenous drug use is no longer an efficient mode of HDV spread. Testing for IgM-anti HDV is a grey area requiring alert. Acute HDV in foreigners should be monitored in the years to come

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)