Plunging into a world? A novel approach to undergraduates’ metaphors of reading

Although there is considerable research on and knowledge about students’ conceptualizations of learning or academic practices and skills, the variability of these conceptualizations has been consistently neglected. In the present study, we address this variability in the field of academic reading with the help of a novel approach. Drawing on qualitative metaphor analysis, we report a detailed system of students’ conceptual metaphors of reading. Our specific methodological approach to identify the structure of these conceptual metaphors allows to analyze subjective agency on a lexical as well as grammatical level. The conceptual metaphors we identified by this method are mar­kedly variable, although they create an overall impression of medium to low agency, that is a reader who is only weakly active or potent. Interrater reliability of the coding system was very good. We also report and analyze the frequency of the conceptual metaphors in a sample of 143 texts written by bachelor students

Дослідження структури порушених відкритою розробкою земель й пошук шляхів вдосконалення рекультивації залишкових виробок кар'єрів

Стаття присвячена дослідженням структури порушених земель, на ділянках з видобутку корисних копалин відкритим способом. Наведено площі порушень земель при розробці основних видів корисних копалин. Проаналізовано ризики, що виникають із несвоєчасною рекультивацією земель гірничого відводу, а також від покинутих гірничих виробок старих кар'єрів. Паралельно розглянуті обсяги відходів гірничого виробництва та їх повторне використання в якості заповнювача для залишкових вироблених просторів кар'єрів.The article is devoted to the research of land violation indicators at the extraction of minerals by surface mining method. Data gives about the land violations area at the mining key minerals. Ana-lyzed the risks from the not-on-time reclamation of the mining clam and abandoned excavations of the old quarries. In parallel considered the volumes of mining wastes and their reuse as aggregate for filling residual spaces of surface mines.Статья посвящена исследованиям площадей нарушения земель, связанных с добычей полезных ископаемых открытым способом. Приведены площади нарушений земель при разработке основных видов полезных ископаемых. Проанализированы риски, представляемые несвоевременной рекультивацией земель горного отвода, а также заброшенными горными выработками старых карьеров. Параллельно рассмотрены объемы отходов горного производства и их повторное использование в качестве заполнителя для остаточных выработанных пространств карьеров

Neurologic phenotypes associated with COL4A1/2 mutations

Objective: To characterize the neurologic phenotypes associated with COL4A1/2 mutations and to seek genotype–phenotype correlation. Methods: We analyzed clinical, EEG, and neuroimaging data of 44 new and 55 previously reported patients with COL4A1/COL4A2 mutations. Results: Childhood-onset focal seizures, frequently complicated by status epilepticus and resistance to antiepileptic drugs, was the most common phenotype. EEG typically showed focal epileptiform discharges in the context of other abnormalities, including generalized sharp waves or slowing. In 46.4% of new patients with focal seizures, porencephalic cysts on brain MRI colocalized with the area of the focal epileptiform discharges. In patients with porencephalic cysts, brain MRI frequently also showed extensive white matter abnormalities, consistent with the finding of diffuse cerebral disturbance on EEG. Notably, we also identified a subgroup of patients with epilepsy as their main clinical feature, in which brain MRI showed nonspecific findings, in particular periventricular leukoencephalopathy and ventricular asymmetry. Analysis of 15 pedigrees suggested a worsening of the severity of clinical phenotype in succeeding generations, particularly when maternally inherited. Mutations associated with epilepsy were spread across COL4A1 and a clear genotype–phenotype correlation did not emerge. Conclusion: COL4A1/COL4A2 mutations typically cause a severe neurologic condition and a broader spectrum of milder phenotypes, in which epilepsy is the predominant feature. Early identification of patients carrying COL4A1/COL4A2 mutations may have important clinical consequences, while for research efforts, omission from large-scale epilepsy sequencing studies of individuals with abnormalities on brain MRI may generate misleading estimates of the genetic contribution to the epilepsies overall

The influence of the type of birth and the mother's diet on the breastfeeding period

Prenatal aspects may inf luence the duration of breastfeeding for newborns. When reduced, it affects their cranio and oro-facial development. The aim of this study was to correlate delivery types and the mother’s diet with breastfeeding duration. This was a descriptive study based on the records of the clinical history from 820 pairs of mothers and newborns attending the Baby Clinic from University Extension. The results were analyzed considering a significance level of 5%. The absence of pregnancy complications was a positive factor for the occurrence of vaginal delivery in 94% of the sample (p<0.001). It was found a high percentage of cesarean delivery (43%). The number of cesarean sections in women with cariogenic diet was higher than in women with a non-cariogenic diet. Women who had a non-cariogenic diet had a tendency to breastfeed their children for more than six months (p<0.01). Also, there was an association between vaginal delivery and breastfeeding for more than six months (p<0.001). In the analyzed sample, the mode of delivery and the mother’s diet inf luenced the duration of breastfeeding

The influence of the type of birth and maternal diet on the period of breastfeeding

The prenatal aspects may influence the duration of breastfeeding of newborns, which when reduced harm to their development brings cranio-orofacial. Correlate the type of delivery and maternal diet with breastfeeding period. This was a descriptive study based on the records of the medical records of 820 dyads of mothers and newborns participating in the University Extension Baby Clinic. The results were analyzed, considering a significance level of 5%. The absence of complications during pregnancy was a positive factor for the occurrence of vaginal delivery in 94% of the sample (p&lt; 0.001). It was found a high percentage of cesarean delivery (43%). The number of caesarean sections in women with cariogenic diet was higher than in women with non-cariogenic diet. The women who have a cariogenic diet does not have a tendency to breastfeed their children for more than 6 months (p&lt;0.01). Also there was an association between vaginal delivery and longer period of 6 months of breastfeeding (p&lt;0.001). The collected sample mode of delivery and maternal diet influence the duration of breastfeeding.Key words: breastfeeding, child-birth, cariogenic dietLa influencia del tipo de nacimiento y dieta materna en el período de lactancia.Los aspectos prenatales pueden influir en la duración de la lactancia materna de los recién nacidos y cuando ésta se reduce puede alterar el desarrollo cráneo- orofacial. El objetivo de esta investigación fue correlacionar el tipo de parto y la dieta materna con el tiempo de duración de la lactancia materna. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo sobre la base de los registros de las historias clínicas de 820 binomios madres-recién nacidos asistentes a la Clínica del Bebé de Extensión Universitaria. Se analizaron los resultados, considerando un nivel de significación del 5%. La ausencia de complicaciones durante el embarazo fue un punto positivo para la ocurrencia de parto vaginal en el 94% de la muestra (p &lt; 0,001). Se encontró un alto porcentaje de partos por cesárea (43%). El número de cesáreas en mujeres con dieta cariogénica fue mayor que en las mujeres con la dieta no cariogénica. Las mujeres que tienen una dieta no cariogénica tenían una tendencia a amamantar a sus hijos durante más de 6 meses (p&lt;0,01). También hubo una asociación entre el parto vaginal y mayor período de 6 meses de lactancia materna (p&lt;0,001). En la muestra analizada el tipo de parto y la dieta materna influencian la duración de la lactancia materna.Palabras clave: lactancia materna, parto, dieta cariogénica

The influence of the type of birth and maternal diet on the period of breastfeeding

The prenatal aspects may influence the duration of breastfeeding of newborns, which when reduced harm to their development brings cranio-orofacial. Correlate the type of delivery and maternal diet with breastfeeding period. This was a descriptive study based on the records of the medical records of 820 dyads of mothers and newborns participating in the University Extension Baby Clinic. The results were analyzed, considering a significance level of 5%. The absence of complications during pregnancy was a positive factor for the occurrence of vaginal delivery in 94% of the sample (p< 0.001). It was found a high percentage of cesarean delivery (43%). The number of caesarean sections in women with cariogenic diet was higher than in women with non-cariogenic diet. The women who have a cariogenic diet does not have a tendency to breastfeed their children for more than 6 months (p<0.01). Also there was an association between vaginal delivery and longer period of 6 months of breastfeeding (p<0.001). The collected sample mode of delivery and maternal diet influence the duration of breastfeeding.Los aspectos prenatales pueden influir en la duración de la lactancia materna de los recién nacidos y cuando ésta se reduce puede alterar el desarrollo cráneo- orofacial. El objetivo de esta investigación fue correlacionar el tipo de parto y la dieta materna con el tiempo de duración de la lactancia materna. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo sobre la base de los registros de las historias clínicas de 820 binomios madres-recién nacidos asistentes a la Clínica del Bebé de Extensión Universitaria. Se analizaron los resultados, considerando un nivel de significación del 5%. La ausencia de complicaciones durante el embarazo fue un punto positivo para la ocurrencia de parto vaginal en el 94% de la muestra (p < 0,001). Se encontró un alto porcentaje de partos por cesárea (43%). El número de cesáreas en mujeres con dieta cariogénica fue mayor que en las mujeres con la dieta no cariogénica. Las mujeres que tienen una dieta no cariogénica tenían una tendencia a amamantar a sus hijos durante más de 6 meses (p<0,01). También hubo una asociación entre el parto vaginal y mayor período de 6 meses de lactancia materna (p<0,001). En la muestra analizada el tipo de parto y la dieta materna influencian la duración de la lactancia materna

The influence of the type of birth and the mother's diet on the breastfeeding period

Prenatal aspects may inf luence the duration of breastfeeding for newborns. When reduced, it affects their cranio and oro-facial development. The aim of this study was to correlate delivery types and the mother’s diet with breastfeeding duration. This was a descriptive study based on the records of the clinical history from 820 pairs of mothers and newborns attending the Baby Clinic from University Extension. The results were analyzed considering a significance level of 5%. The absence of pregnancy complications was a positive factor for the occurrence of vaginal delivery in 94% of the sample (p<0.001). It was found a high percentage of cesarean delivery (43%). The number of cesarean sections in women with cariogenic diet was higher than in women with a non-cariogenic diet. Women who had a non-cariogenic diet had a tendency to breastfeed their children for more than six months (p<0.01). Also, there was an association between vaginal delivery and breastfeeding for more than six months (p<0.001). In the analyzed sample, the mode of delivery and the mother’s diet inf luenced the duration of breastfeeding

Serum IGF1 and linear growth in children with congenital leptin deficiency before and after leptin substitution

Background!#!Evidence from in vitro and rodent studies suggests that leptin, a key signal of long-term energy reserves, promotes IGF1 synthesis and linear growth. This effect of leptin has not been fully investigated in humans. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of leptin substitution on growth factors and linear growth in children with congenital leptin deficiency (CLD).!##!Methods!#!In this cohort study we included eight pediatric patients (six males), age 0.9-14.8 years, who were diagnosed with CLD and received leptin substitution at our University Medical Center. We calculated standard deviation scores (SDS) for serum levels of IGF1 and IGFBP3, IGF1/IGFBP3 molar ratio, and height at baseline (T0) and 12 months (T12) after the initiation of substitution with metreleptin.!##!Results!#!All patients had severe obesity (BMI-SDS mean ± SD: 4.14 ± 1.51) at T0 and significant BMI-SDS reduction to 2.47 ± 1.05 at T12. At T0, all patients were taller than the mid-parental median, yet had low IGF1 and IGF1/IGFBP3 molar ratios (IGF1-SDS[Formula: see text]!##!Conclusions!#!These results in CLD patients are contrary to observations in children with idiopathic obesity who typically have above-mean IGF1 levels that decrease with weight loss, and therefore suggest that leptin increases IGF1 levels and promotes linear growth

Diagnostics of autoimmune bullous diseases in German dermatology departments

van Beek N, Knuth-Rehr D, Altmeyer P, et al. Diagnostics of autoimmune bullous diseases in German dermatology departments. Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft. 2012;10(7):492-500.Background: No consistent data are available on the currently employed diagnostic tools for autoimmune bullous diseases in Germany. The aim of this survey was to describe currently performed diagnostic methods for bullous autoimmune diseases in German dermatology departments. Methods: A standardized questionnaire evaluated the available diagnostic methods i. e. direct immunofluorescence microscopy (IFM), indirect IFM, commercial ELISA systems, and non-commercial serological tests as well as the number of samples per year in all 34 university and 39 non-university dermatology departments. Results: The overall return rate was 89 %, 100 % and 79 % for the university and non-university departments, respectively. Direct IFM was the most frequently used method and was applied in 98 % of the responding departments. In 74 % of the responding departments, indirect IFM was used mainly on monkey esophagus and human salt-split skin. Commercial ELISA systems were employed in 58 % of the clinics; all of them used anti-desmoglein ELISA, while anti-BP180 and anti-BP230 ELISA were established in 49 % and 48 % of departments, respectively. Non-commercial analytic methods were only performed in 22 % of the departments. Conclusions: The high return rate of this survey allows a relatively precise description of the current diagnostic methods used in German dermatology departments. Standard diagnostic tests are available nationwide and in bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus, the antigen-specific detection of autoantibodies is routinely performed in half of the departments. Rare disorders may be diagnosed by cooperation with some specialized centers