What factors have an influence on a quality teaching practice in Sciences?

Abstract This paper aims to know to what extent in-service teachers who have not participated in science teaching training courses neither have performed any research in this field develop a quality teaching practice and what factors have influenced to achieve it. Questionnaires and non-participating observation protocols about the classroom work have been used as well as semi-structured interviews with a sample of teachers to obtain data. These instruments try to characterize the teaching action and determine what factors and in which degrees have influenced the performance of a quality science teaching activity

Preoperative dexamethasone reduces postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting following mastectomy for breast cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dexamethasone has been reported to reduce postoperative symptoms after different surgical procedures. We evaluated the efficacy of preoperative dexamethasone in ameliorating postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and pain after mastectomy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 70 patients scheduled for mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection were analyzed after randomization to treatment with 8 mg intravenous dexamethasone (<it>n </it>= 35) or placebo (<it>n </it>= 35). All patients underwent standardized procedures for general anesthesia and surgery. Episodes of PONV and pain score were recorded on a visual analogue scale. Analgesic and antiemetic requirements were also recorded.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Demographic and medical variables were similar between groups. The incidence of PONV was lower in the dexamethasone group at the early postoperative evaluation (28.6% <it>vs</it>. 60%; <it>p </it>= 0.02) and at 6 h (17.2% <it>vs</it>. 45.8%; <it>p </it>= 0.03). More patients in the placebo group required additional antiemetic medication (21 <it>vs</it>. 8; <it>p </it>= 0.01). Dexamethasone treatment significantly reduced postoperative pain just after surgery (VAS score, 4.54 ± 1.55 <it>vs</it>. 5.83 ± 2.00; <it>p </it>= 0.004), at 6 h (3.03 ± 1.20 <it>vs</it>. 4.17 ± 1.24; <it>p </it>< 0.0005) and at 12 h (2.09 ± 0.85 <it>vs</it>. 2.54 ± 0.98; <it>p </it>= 0.04). Analgesics were required in more patients of the control group (21 <it>vs</it>. 10; <it>p </it>= 0.008). There were no adverse events, morbidity or mortality.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Preoperative intravenous dexamethasone (8 mg) can significantly reduce the incidence of PONV and pain in patients undergoing mastectomy with axillary dissection for breast cancer.</p> <p>Trial registration number</p> <p>NCT01116713</p

Concepciones de futuros profesores de ciencias sobre un concepto "olvidado" en la enseñanza de la electricidad : la fuerza electromotriz

El trabajo que aquí se presenta recoge los resultados de una investigación en torno al aprendizaje del concepto de fuerza electromotriz a través de las siguientes etapas: a) conocer las principales dificultades que se produjeron en el desarrollo del concepto a lo largo de la historia; b) establecer las principales características de un aprendizaje significativo del concepto de fuerza electromotriz; c) averiguar en qué medida se presentan dificultades de aprendizaje de este concepto en estudiantes de último curso de carrera y recién licenciados en ciencias. Los resultados obtenidos parecen confirmar que los estudiantes, al acabar sus estudios de licenciatura no han logrado un claro significado de la magnitud fuerza electromotriz y, en consecuencia, presentan confusiones entre ésta y la diferencia de potencial en circuitos eléctricos y en fenómenos sencillos de inducción electromagnética. En la situación particular de un fenómeno sencillo de inducción electromagnética, casi la totalidad de los estudiantes presentan serias deficiencias en los significados de la fuerza electromotriz y diferencia de potencial.This paper offers the result of our research into the learning of the concept of EMF at an introductory level according to the following stages: a) To know the main difficulties when defining the concept throughout history. b) To establish the main characteristics of the meaningful learning of the concept of EMF. c) To analyse to what extent students have a meaninful learning of EMF when they finish their degrees in science. The results seem to confirm that university students when finishing their science degrees have not got a clear idea of the notion of EMF. Therefore they often mistake it for potential difference. In the specific test of an easy experience of EMF induction, nearly all the students had serious problems in differentiating between EMF and potential difference

Executive summary on the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in elderly or frail individuals. 2022 update of the 2018 consensus document "Treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the elderly".

The population with type 2 DM (DM2) is highly heterogeneous, representing an important challenge for healthcare professionals. The therapeutic choice should be individualized, considering the functional status, frailty, the occurrence of comorbidities, and the preferences of patients and their caregivers. New evidence on the cardiovascular and renal protection of specific therapeutic groups and on the usefulness of new technologies for DM2 management, among other aspects, warrant an update of the consensus document on the DM2 in the elderly that was published in 2018

Executive summary on the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in elderly or frail individuals. 2022 update of the 2018 consensus document "Treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the elderly" Resumen ejecutivo sobre el tratamiento de la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 en personas de edad avanzada o frágiles. Actualización 2022 del documento de consenso 2018 «Tratamiento de la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 en el paciente anciano»

The population with type 2 DM (DM2) is highly heterogeneous, representing an important challenge for healthcare professionals. The therapeutic choice should be individualized, considering the functional status, frailty, the occurrence of comorbidities, and the preferences of patients and their caregivers. New evidence on the cardiovascular and renal protection of specific therapeutic groups and on the usefulness of new technologies for DM2 management, among other aspects, warrant an update of the consensus document on the DM2 in the elderly that was published in 2018