Diagnosis-oriented support in inclusive mathematics on the primary level – professionalization through reflective practice in teacher education

Für den inklusiven Unterricht ist es von großer Bedeutung, dass Lehrkräfte individuelle Potenziale und Fähigkeiten aller Schüler*innen erkennen, fördern und (weiter)entwickeln. Bereits in der ersten Phase der Lehrer*innenbildung können Lehrveranstaltungen so gestaltet werden, dass grundlegende und handlungsnahe Kompetenzen zu Diagnose und Förderung erworben und gleichzeitig eigene Professionalisierungsprozesse reflektiert werden können. Der Beitrag stellt die Konzeption von Lehrveranstaltungen vor, die die (reflexive) Vermittlung fach- und fachdidaktischer sowie pädagogischer Wissensbereiche und reflektierter Praxiserfahrungen in der Diagnose und Förderung von Kindern mit besonderen Schwierigkeiten zum Ziel haben. Die Begleitforschung der Lehrveranstaltungen fokussiert über einen Fragebogen mit offenen und geschlossenen Items die retrospektive Selbsteinschätzung des eigenen Kompetenzzuwachses der Studierenden. Die Ergebnisse der qualitativen und quantitativen Auswertung zeigen, dass in den fachbezogenen Lehrveranstaltungen der Kompetenzzuwachs facettenreich wahrgenommen wird und dies sowohl im Bereich des Wissens als auch des Handlungspotenzials. Zudem zeigen die Ergebnisse, dass mit Varianten solcher Veranstaltungskonzepte, die vergleichbare zentrale Gestaltungselemente aufweisen, ähnliche Ziele erreicht werden können. (DIPF/Verlag)For teaching in inclusive settings, teachers have to identify, support, and develop the individual potentials and abilities of all pupils. Even in the first phase of teacher education, courses can be designed in that way, that basic and action related competencies with respect to diagnosis and support can be acquired, and at the same time own professionalization processes can be reflected. The paper presents the central ideas of teacher education courses that aim at (reflective) education of content knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, and pedagogical knowledge as well as reflective practical experiences with respect to diagnosis and support for pupils with specific difficulties. For the accompanying research of the courses a questionnaire with open and closed items was used, focusing on the retrospective self-assessment of student teachers own competence development. The results of the qualitative and quantitative analysis show that the reported increase of competencies in the subject specific courses is perceived multifaceted, and this is true for the field of knowledge as well as for the potential for action. Moreover, the results show that variations of course conceptions with similar central design elements might reach comparable objectives

First-time synthesis of a magnetoelectric core-shell composite via conventional solid-state reaction

In recent years, multiferroics and magnetoelectrics have demonstrated their potential for a variety of applications. However, no magnetoelectric material has been translated to a real application yet. Here, we report for the first time that a magnetoelectric core–shell ceramic, is synthesized via a conventional solid-state reaction, where core–shell grains form during a single sintering step. The core consists of ferrimagnetic $CoFe_{2}O_{4}$, which is surrounded by a ferroelectric shell consisting of $(BiFeO_{3})_{x}–(Bi_{1/2}K_{1/2}TiO_{3})_{1−x}$. We establish the core–shell nature of these grains by transmission-electron microscopy (TEM) and find an epitaxial crystallographic relation between core and shell, with a lattice mismatch of 6 ± 0.7%. The core–shell grains exhibit exceptional magnetoelectric coupling effects that we attribute to the epitaxial connection between the magnetic and ferroelectric phase, which also leads to magnetic exchange coupling as demonstrated by neutron diffraction. Apparently, ferrimagnetic $CoFe_{2}O_{4}$ cores undergo a non-centrosymmetric distortion of the crystal structure upon epitaxial strain from the shell, which leads to simultaneous ferrimagnetism and piezoelectricity. We conclude that in situ core–shell ceramics offer a number of advantages over other magnetoelectric composites, such as lower leakage current, higher density and absence of substrate clamping effects. At the same time, the material is predestined for application, since its preparation is cost-effective and only requires a single sintering step. This discovery adds a promising new perspective for the application of magnetoelectric materials

How could the service delivery process of dynamic arm supports be optimized?

BACKGROUND: The service delivery process of dynamic arm support (DAS) is complex. Obtaining an optimal match between user and DAS depends on a variety of interrelated factors, different professionals are involved, and the market of available solutions is evolving. OBJECTIVE: To determine how the service delivery process of DAS could be optimized. METHODS: Interviews with DAS users that retrospectively focused on the experienced service delivery process, which was compared to the general Dutch prescription guideline. Results were presented in a focus group session to seven DAS consultants, and subsequently verified by a member-check. RESULTS: Sixteen people who considered the Gowing (a DAS new on the market) as a solution and seven DAS consultants participated. Aspects that can be optimized in the current service delivery process included an improved cooperation between clients, professionals and consultants, increased knowledge of DAS in professionals, an embedded user evaluation, and timely delivery. CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended that the service delivery process is optimized by developing a DAS specific prescription framework. The issues identified in this study should be addressed in this framework. For this additional knowledge on how to optimally match persons and DAS is needed

Changes in Social Network Size Are Associated With Cognitive Changes in the Oldest-Old

Objectives:Social isolation is increasing in aging societies and several studies have shown a relation with worse cognition in old age. However, less is known about the association in the oldest-old (85+); the group that is at highest risk for both social isolation and dementia. Methods:Analyses were based on follow-up 5 to 9 of the longitudinal German study on aging, cognition, and dementia in primary care patients (AgeCoDe) and the study on needs, health service use, costs, and health-related quality of life in a large sample of oldest-old primary care patients (AgeQualiDe), a multi-center population-based prospective cohort study. Measurements included the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6), with a score below 12 indicating social isolation, as well as the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) as an indicator of cognitive function. Results:Dementia-free study participants (n = 942) were M = 86.4 (SD = 3.0) years old at observation onset, 68.2% were women. One third (32.3%) of them were socially isolated. Adjusted linear hybrid mixed effects models revealed significantly lower cognitive function in individuals with smaller social networks (β = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.3-0.7, p < .001). Moreover, changes in an individual's social network size were significantly associated with cognitive changes over time (β = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.1-0.4, p = .003), indicating worse cognitive function with shrinking social networks. Conclusion:Social isolation is highly prevalent among oldest-old individuals, being a risk factor for decreases in cognitive function. Consequently, it is important to maintain a socially active lifestyle into very old age. Likewise, this calls for effective ways to prevent social isolation

Insights from the genome of the biotrophic fungal plant pathogen Ustilago maydis

Ustilago maydis is a ubiquitous pathogen of maize and a well-established model organism for the study of plant-microbe interactions. This basidiomycete fungus does not use aggressive virulence strategies to kill its host. U. maydis belongs to the group of biotrophic parasites (the smuts) that depend on living tissue for proliferation and development. Here we report the genome sequence for a member of this economically important group of biotrophic fungi. The 20.5-million-base U. maydis genome assembly contains 6,902 predicted protein-encoding genes and lacks pathogenicity signatures found in the genomes of aggressive pathogenic fungi, for example a battery of cell-wall-degrading enzymes. However, we detected unexpected genomic features responsible for the pathogenicity of this organism. Specifically, we found 12 clusters of genes encoding small secreted proteins with unknown function. A significant fraction of these genes exists in small gene families. Expression analysis showed that most of the genes contained in these clusters are regulated together and induced in infected tissue. Deletion of individual clusters altered the virulence of U. maydis in five cases, ranging from a complete lack of symptoms to hypervirulence. Despite years of research into the mechanism of pathogenicity in U. maydis, no 'true' virulence factors had been previously identified. Thus, the discovery of the secreted protein gene clusters and the functional demonstration of their decisive role in the infection process illuminate previously unknown mechanisms of pathogenicity operating in biotrophic fungi. Genomic analysis is, similarly, likely to open up new avenues for the discovery of virulence determinants in other pathogens. ©2006 Nature Publishing Group.J.K., M. B. and R.K. thank G. Sawers and U. Kämper for critical reading of the manuscript. The genome sequencing of Ustilago maydis strain 521 is part of the fungal genome initiative and was funded by National Human Genome Research Institute (USA) and BayerCropScience AG (Germany). F.B. was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (USA). J.K. and R.K. thank the German Ministry of Education and Science (BMBF) for financing the DNA array setup and the Max Planck Society for their support of the manual genome annotation. F.B. was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, B.J.S. was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canada Foundation for Innovation, J.W.K. received funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, J.R.-H. received funding from CONACYT, México, A.M.-M. was supported by a fellowship from the Humboldt Foundation, and L.M. was supported by an EU grant. Author Contributions All authors were involved in planning and executing the genome sequencing project. B.W.B., J.G., L.-J.M., E.W.M., D.D., C.M.W., J.B., S.Y., D.B.J., S.C., C.N., E.K., G.F., P.H.S., I.H.-H., M. Vaupel, H.V., T.S., J.M., D.P., C.S., A.G., F.C. and V. Vysotskaia contributed to the three independent sequencing projects; M.M., G.M., U.G., D.H., M.O. and H.-W.M. were responsible for gene model refinement, database design and database maintenance; G.M., J. Kämper, R.K., G.S., M. Feldbrügge, J.S., C.W.B., U.F., M.B., B.S., B.J.S., M.J.C., E.C.H.H., S.M., F.B., J.W.K., K.J.B., J. Klose, S.E.G., S.J.K., M.H.P., H.A.B.W., R.deV., H.J.D., J.R.-H., C.G.R.-P., L.O.-C., M.McC., K.S., J.P.-M., J.I.I., W.H., P.G., P.S.-A., M. Farman, J.E.S., R.S., J.M.G.-P., J.C.K., W.L. and D.H. were involved in functional annotation and interpretation; T.B., O.M., L.M., A.M.-M., D.G., K.M., N.R., V. Vincon, M. VraneŠ, M.S. and O.L. performed experiments. J. Kämper, R.K. and M.B. wrote and edited the paper with input from L.-J.M., J.G., F.B., J.W.K., B.J.S. and S.E.G. Individual contributions of authors can be found as Supplementary Notes

Secondary prevention measures in anaphylaxis patients: Data from the anaphylaxis registry

Background: Patients with a history of anaphylaxis are at risk of future anaphylactic reactions. Thus, secondary prevention measures are recommended for these patients to prevent or attenuate the next reaction. Methods: Data from the Anaphylaxis Registry were analyzed to identify secondary prevention measures offered to patients who experienced anaphylaxis. Our analysis included 7788 cases from 10 European countries and Brazil. Results:The secondary prevention measures offered varied across the elicitors. A remarkable discrepancy was observed between prevention measures offered in specialized allergy centers (84% of patients were prescribed adrenaline autoinjectors following EAACI guidelines) and outside the centers: Here, EAACI guideline adherence was only 37%. In the multivariate analysis, the elicitor of the reaction, age of the patient, mastocytosis as comorbidity, severity of the reaction, and reimbursement/availability of the autoinjector influence physician's decision to prescribe one. Conclusions: Based on the low implementation of guidelines concerning secondary prevention measures outside of specialized allergy centers, our findings highlight the importance of these specialized centers and the requirement of better education for primary healthcare and emergency physicians

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Thin-layer Chromatography–Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy – A Versatile Tool for Pharmaceutical and Natural Products Analysis: FH – HES Universities of Applied Sciences

Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is a mature and very established technique, frequently used in many fields of applications ranging from natural product analysis to chemical or pharmaceutical applications. The introduction of a commercially available TLC–MS interface was a major step complementing the ease of use of TLC with structural elucidation power of mass spectrometry (MS). The TLC-MS interface simplifies the workflow dramatically to gain structural information directly from TLC separations. This article describes the potential of TLC-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) utilizing the TLC-MS interface to straightforwardly characterize zones of interest by NMR spectroscopy with a focus on quantification of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in formulations and identification of active principles in plant extracts