Argumentieren lernen mit Rubrics: Raster zur Steuerung und Beurteilung des mathematischen Argumentierens

In der vom Schweizerischen Nationalfonds (SNF) geförderten Interventionsstudie LERU (Lernen mit Rubrics) untersuchten Forschende der Pädagogischen Hochschulen St. Gallen und Zug das Erlernen und Beurteilen des mathematischen Argumentierens in 5. und 6. Klassen. Der eingesetzte Rubric (Beurteilungsraster) entfaltet das Konstrukt „Argumentieren“ mit verschiedenen Aspekten und Niveaustufen. Er diente als Instrument zur individuellen Lernsteuerung, formativen Beurteilung und für Feedbacks unter Schüler*innen sowie zwischen Lehrpersonen und Lernenden. Während der zehnwöchigen Intervention wurden Sachaufgaben und arithmetisch reichhaltige Problemstellungen bearbeitet und das mathematische Argumentieren mithilfe des Rubrics verbessert. Die Erfahrungen mit dem Beurteilungsraster und die Forschungsergebnisse verweisen auf ein vielversprechendes Potenzial, unterrichtliche Optimierungsmöglichkeiten und auf eine Folgestudie namens FEMAR, welche die Wirkungen des Rubrics auf das formative Feedback analysieren wird (Laufzeit bis Ende 2021). Im Zentrum des vorliegenden Beitrags steht die Vorstellung des Rubrics und seines didaktischen Einsatzes im Mathematikunterricht

The clinical relevance of assessing advanced glycation endproducts accumulation in diabetes

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes. There is increasing evidence that advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) play a pivotal role in atherosclerosis, in particular in diabetes. AGE accumulation is a measure of cumulative metabolic and oxidative stress, and may so represent the "metabolic memory". Furthermore, increased AGE accumulation is closely related to the development of cardiovascular complications in diabetes. This review article will focus on the clinical relevance of measuring AGE accumulation in diabetic patients by focusing on AGE formation, AGEs as predictors of long-term complications, and interventions against AGEs

Social Robots in Elderly Healthcare: A Burden or a Gift?

The healthcare sector is currently under enormous pressure and the COVID-19 pandemic does not improve this situation. The quality of healthcare will be negatively impacted when this pressure continues in the longer term. In 2050 it is expected that a total of 2.1 billion people will be aged 60+ years old. To overcome the increasing demand for healthcare by this age group, various studies are being conducted into various technological solutions, such as social robots. In this study, the Alpha Mini social robot was used in an experiment to research which tasks a social robot could assist with, to reduce the work pressure of healthcare professionals and to help the elderly live longer at their own homes. The experiment was carried out using interviews with healthcare professionals and informal caregivers about the demonstrated Alpha Mini. In addition to the experiment and interviews a survey was sent out to 237 healthcare organizations in the Netherlands to identify the 1) work pressure, 2) daily tasks, 3) social robot experiences, and 4) the features a social robot should have to gather requirements. The experiment failed due to work pressure at the healthcare organization. The survey resulted in 181 respondents. The results suggest that tasks such as reminders, setting alarms and physiotherapy have a great potential to help the healthcare professional in reducing their work pressure and tasks, and the elderly to be able to stay living longer at their own home

L’utilité de "Rubrics" (grilles d’évaluation) pour l’apprentissage autorégulé à l’aide de l’exemple du raisonnement mathématique

In der Studie "Lernen mit Rubrics" (LERU) wurde ein Beurteilungsraster (Rubric) für die formative Beurteilung des mathematischen Argumentierens während 9 Wochen in 22 Klassen der 5. und 6. Jahrgangsstufe eingesetzt. Mittels quantitativer Analysen wurde ermittelt, ob ein Zusammenhang zwischen kognitiven und motivationalen Aspekten der Nützlichkeit und der selbst eingeschätzten Fähigkeit zur Selbstregulation bei mathematischen Textaufgaben besteht. (DIPF/Orig.)Dans l’étude "Apprendre avec Rubrics" (LERU), une grille d’évaluation (Rubric) a été utilisée pour l’évaluation formative du raisonnement mathématique pendant 9 semaines dans 22 classes des 5ème et 6ème années. Une attention particulière a été portée à la question de savoir si les élèves considèrent Rubric comme utile en termes de capacité d’autorégulation lors de la résolution de tâches d’argumentation et si la fréquence des commentaires des enseignants est liée à cette évaluation. Au moyen d’analyses quantitatives, il a d’abord été déterminé s’il existe une corrélation entre les aspects cognitifs et motivationnels de l’utilité perçue et la capacité auto-évaluée à s’autoréguler dans des tâches d’argumentation, et la fréquence des commentaires des enseignants. Par la suite, des modèles de croissance linéaire ont été utilisés pour tester si une utilité évaluée positivement explique également les différences dans le développement individuel de l’autorégulation lors de la résolution de tâches. Les deux questions reçoivent une réponse positive. De plus, les élèves qui ont eu le sentiment que leurs ompétences d’autorégulation étaient faibles ont fait de plus grands progrès au cours du projet que ceux qui les ont évaluées plus positivement. Les résultats sont discutés en ce qui concerne les conséquences pratiques de cet outil pour le contrôle et l’évaluation du processus d’apprentissage. (DIPF/Orig.

D-dopachrome tautomerase contributes to lung epithelial repair via atypical chemokine receptor 3-dependent Akt signaling

BACKGROUND: Emphysematous COPD is characterized by aberrant alveolar repair. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) contributes to alveolar repair, but for its structural and functional homolog D-dopachrome tautomerase (DDT) this is unknown. MIF mediates its effects through CD74 and/or C-X-C chemokine receptors 2 (CXCR2), 4(CXCR4), and possibly 7 (ACKR3). DDT can also signal through CD74, but interactions with other receptors have not been described yet. We therefore aimed at investigating if and how DDT contributes to epithelial repair in COPD. METHODS: We studied effects of recombinant DDT on cell proliferation and survival by clonogenic assay and annexin V-PI staining respectively. DDT-induced signaling was investigated by Western blot. Effects on epithelial growth and differentiation was studied using lung organoid cultures with primary murine or human epithelial cells and incubating with DDT or an ACKR3-blocking nanobody. DDT-ACKR3 interactions were identified by ELISA and co-immunoprecipitation. FINDINGS: We found that DDT promoted proliferation of and prevented staurosporine-induced apoptosis in A549 lung epithelial cells. Importantly, DDT also stimulated growth of primary alveolar epithelial cells as DDT treatment resulted in significantly more and larger murine and human alveolar organoids compared to untreated controls. The anti-apoptotic effect of DDT and DDT-induced organoid growth were inhibited in the presence of an ACKR3-blocking nanobody. Furthermore, ELISA assay and co-immunoprecipitation suggested DDT complexes with ACKR3. DDT could activate the PI3K-Akt pathway and this activation was enhanced in ACKR3-overexpressing cells. INTERPRETATION: In conclusion, DDT contributes to alveolar epithelial repair via ACKR3 and may thus augment lung epithelial repair in COPD

Increasing incidence of skin disorders in children? A comparison between 1987 and 2001

BACKGROUND: The increasing proportion of skin diseases encountered in general practice represents a substantial part of morbidity in children. Only limited information is available about the frequency of specific skin diseases. We aimed to compare incidence rates of skin diseases in children in general practice between 1987 and 2001. METHODS: We used data on all children aged 0–17 years derived from two consecutive surveys performed in Dutch general practice in 1987 and 2001. Both surveys concerned a longitudinal registration of GP consultations over 12 months. Each disease episode was coded according to the International Classification of Primary Care. Incidence rates of separate skin diseases were calculated by dividing all new episodes for each distinct ICPC code by the average study population at risk. Data were stratified for socio-demographic characteristics. RESULTS: The incidence rate of all skin diseases combined in general practice decreased between 1987 and 2001. Among infants the incidence rate increased. Girls presented more skin diseases to the GP. In the southern part of the Netherlands children consulted their GP more often for skin diseases compared to the northern part. Children of non-Western immigrants presented relatively more skin diseases to the GP. In general practice incidence rates of specific skin diseases such as impetigo, dermatophytosis and atopic dermatitis increased in 2001, whereas warts, contact dermatitis and skin injuries decreased. CONCLUSION: The overall incidence rate of all skin diseases combined in general practice decreased whereas the incidence rates of bacterial, mycotic and atopic skin diseases increased

Association between skin diseases and severe bacterial infections in children: case-control study

BACKGROUND: Sepsis or bacteraemia, however rare, is a significant cause of high mortality and serious complications in children. In previous studies skin disease or skin infections were reported as risk factor. We hypothesize that children with sepsis or bacteraemia more often presented with skin diseases to the general practitioner (GP) than other children. If our hypothesis is true the GP could reduce the risk of sepsis or bacteraemia by managing skin diseases appropriately. METHODS: We performed a case-control study using data of children aged 0–17 years of the second Dutch national survey of general practice (2001) and the National Medical Registration of all hospital admissions in the Netherlands. Cases were defined as children who were hospitalized for sepsis or bacteraemia. We selected two control groups by matching each case with six controls. The first control group was randomly selected from the GP patient lists irrespective of hospital admission and GP consultation. The second control group was randomly sampled from those children who were hospitalized for other reasons than sepsis or bacteraemia. We calculated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI). A two-sided p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant in all tests. RESULTS: We found odds ratios for skin related GP consultations of 3.4 (95% CI: [1.1–10.8], p = 0.03) in cases versus GP controls and 1.4 (95% CI: [0.5–3.9], p = 0.44) in cases versus hospital controls. Children younger than three months had an odds ratio (cases/GP controls) of 9.2 (95% CI: [0.81–106.1], p = 0.07) and 4.0 (95% CI: [0.67–23.9], p = 0.12) among cases versus hospital controls. Although cases consulted the GP more often with skin diseases than their controls, the probability of a GP consultation for skin disease was only 5% among cases. CONCLUSION: There is evidence that children who were admitted due to sepsis or bacteraemia consulted the GP more often for skin diseases than other children, but the differences are not clinically relevant indicating that there is little opportunity for GPs to reduce the risk of sepsis and/or bacteraemia considerably by managing skin diseases appropriately

Skin autofluorescence is increased in patients with carotid artery stenosis and peripheral artery disease

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have a pivotal role in atherosclerosis. We evaluated skin autofluorescence (SAF), a non-invasive measurement of tissue AGE accumulation, in patients with carotid artery stenosis with and without coexisting peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD). SAF was measured using the AGE Reader™ in 56 patients with carotid artery stenosis and in 56 age- and sex-matched healthy controls without diabetes, renal dysfunction or known atherosclerotic disease. SAF was higher in patients with carotid artery stenosis compared to the control group: mean 2.81 versus 2.46 (P = 0.002), but especially in the younger age group of 50–60 years old: mean 2.82 versus 1.94 (P = 0.000). Patients with carotid artery stenosis and PAOD proved to have an even higher SAF than patients with carotid artery stenosis only: mean 3.28 versus 2.66 (P = 0.003). Backward linear regression analysis showed that age, smoking, diabetes mellitus, renal function and the presence of PAOD were the determinants of SAF, but carotid artery stenosis was not. SAF is increased in patients with carotid artery stenosis and PAOD. The univariate and multivariate associations of SAF with age, smoking, diabetes, renal insufficiency and PAOD suggest that increased SAF can be seen as an indicator of widespread atherosclerosis