Thinking-back-and-forth in practical work experienced by students: identifying evidence-informed characteristics of good practices in secondary education.

Background: A major challenge for effective practical work in school science is to encourage students to connect hands-on aspects to minds-on principles, in other words to Think Back-and-Forth (TBF). Teacher behaviour is pivotal in achieving this goal, but teachers lack guidelines how to accomplish this.

Purpose: In this study, we identified good practices that were conducive to minds-on learning experiences during practical work.

Semiautomated surveillance of deep surgical site infections after colorectal surgeries: A multicenter external validation of two surveillance algorithms.

Objective: Automated surveillance methods increasingly replace or support conventional (manual) surveillance; the latter is labor intensive and vulnerable to subjective interpretation. We sought to validate 2 previously developed semiautomated surveillance algorithms to identify deep surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients undergoing colorectal surgeries in Dutch hospitals.

Design: Multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Kynurenine and Hemoglobin as Sex-Specific Variables in COVID-19 Patients: A Machine Learning and Genetic Algorithms Approach.

Differences in clinical manifestations, immune response, metabolic alterations, and outcomes (including disease severity and mortality) between men and women with COVID-19 have been reported since the pandemic outbreak, making it necessary to implement sex-specific biomarkers for disease diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to identify sex-associated differences in COVID-19 patients by means of a genetic algorithm (GALGO) and machine learning, employing support vector machine (SVM) and logistic regression (LR) for the data analysis. Both algorithms identified kynurenine and hemoglobin as the most important variables to distinguish between men and women with COVID-19.

Predictors for the utilization of social service counseling by prostate cancer patients.

Purpose: Social service counseling (SSC) is an important instrument to support cancer patients, for example, regarding legal support, or rehabilitation. Several countries have established on-site SSC in routine care. Previous analyses have shown that SSC utilization varies across cancer centers.

Targeted metabolomics identifies high performing diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for COVID-19.

Research exploring the development and outcome of COVID-19 infections has led to the need to find better diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. This cross-sectional study used targeted metabolomics to identify potential COVID-19 biomarkers that predicted the course of the illness by assessing 110 endogenous plasma metabolites from individuals admitted to a local hospital for diagnosis/treatment. Patients were classified into four groups (≈ 40 each) according to standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 testing and disease course: PCR-/controls (i.

Effects of Implementing Multiple Components in a School-Wide Antibullying Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Elementary Schools.

This study investigates the effectiveness of the PRIMA antibullying program for elementary education using a cluster-randomized trial with two experimental conditions (with and without student lessons) and a control group. Students of 31 schools participated in the study (N = 3,135; M  = 10 years). Multilevel regression analyses demonstrated positive effects of the program on peer-reported victimization and reinforcing behavior.

Use of psycho-oncological services by prostate cancer patients: A multilevel analysis.

Background: Cancer patients often suffer from psychological distress. Psycho-oncological services (POS) have been established in some health care systems in order to address such issues. This study aims to identify patient and center characteristics that elucidate the use of POS by patients in prostate cancer centers (PCCs).

Determinants of self-reported functional status (EPIC-26) in prostate cancer patients prior to treatment.

Purpose: The self-reported functional status (sr-FS) of prostate cancer (PCa) patients varies substantially between patients and health-care providers before treatment. Information about this issue is important for evaluating comparisons between health-care providers and to assist in treatment decision-making. There have been few reports on correlates of pretherapeutic sr-FS.

Long Trace Eyeblink Conditioning Is Largely Preserved in Essential Tremor.

The cerebellum and the prefrontal cortex are assumed to play a role in the pathophysiology of essential tremor (ET). Trace eyeblink conditioning with a long interstimulus interval relies on an intact function of the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex (PFC), and, although marginally, of the cerebellum. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether long trace eyeblink conditioning is impaired in patients with ET.

Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage in Autoimmune Diseases.

Purpose Of Review: The present paper establishes a narrative and analytical review of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) in ANCA-associated vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and antiphospholipid syndrome.

Recent Findings: Recent studies found a frequent association between DAH and infections and systemic lupus erythematosus and its associated factors. Biological therapies like rituximab have demonstrated benefit mainly in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Beliefs, Barriers, and Preferences of European Overweight Women to Adopt a Healthier Lifestyle in Pregnancy to Minimize Risk of Developing Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: An Explorative Study.

Introduction: We explored beliefs, perceived barriers, and preferences regarding lifestyle changes among overweight European pregnant women to help inform the development of future lifestyle interventions in the prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Methods: An explorative mixed methods, two-staged study was conducted to gather information from pregnant European women (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). In three European countries 21 interviews were conducted, followed by 71 questionnaires in six other European countries.

The relationship of objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour with gestational weight gain and birth weight.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour with gestational weight gain (GWG) and birth weight.

Design: Combined data from two prospective studies: (1) nulliparous pregnant women without BMI restrictions and (2) overweight and obese pregnant women at risk for gestational diabetes.

Methods: Daily PA and sedentary behaviour were measured with an accelerometer around 15 and at 32-35 weeks of gestation.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and metals in primiparous women: a comparison from Canada and Mexico.

Under the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) and its Sound Management of Chemicals (SMOC) program, a tri-national human contaminant monitoring initiative was completed to provide baseline exposure information for several environmental contaminants in Canada, Mexico and the United States (U.S). Blood samples were collected from primiparous women in Canada and Mexico, and were analysed for a suite of environmental contaminants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene(p,p'-DDE),beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), mercury and lead.

Sampling criteria for identifying human biomonitoring chemical differences in the Canadian Arctic.

Human biomonitoring studies in the Canadian Arctic have measured a wide range of metals and persistent organic pollutants in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal mothers during two time periods in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. This analysis provides preliminary estimates on sample sizes and sampling frequencies required to measure significant changes in maternal blood concentrations for PCB 153 and total mercury. For example, sample sizes of 35-40 mothers permit the detection of a 40% decrease in these chemical concentrations between two groups (e.

Comparing plasma concentrations of persistent organic pollutants and metals in primiparous women from northern and southern Canada.

The exposure of Aboriginal peoples in the Canadian Arctic to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and metals through the consumption of traditional food items is well recognized; however, less information is available for Canadian immigrants. The direct comparison of blood chemical concentrations for expectant primiparous women sampled in the Inuvik and Baffin regions of the Canadian Arctic, as well as Canadian- and foreign-born women from five southern Canadian centers (Halifax, Vancouver, Hamilton, Ottawa, and Calgary), provides relative exposure information for samples of northern and southern mothers in Canada. Based on our analyses, Canadian mothers are exposed to a similar suite of contaminants; however, Inuit first birth mothers residing in the Canadian Arctic had higher age-adjusted geometric mean concentrations for several legacy POPs regulated under the Stockholm Convention, along with lead and total mercury.

Physical activity in overweight and obese pregnant women is associated with higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines and with reduced insulin response through interleukin-6.

OBJECTIVE Previously, we reported the positive association of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese pregnant women. We sought to assess whether these MVPA-induced changes in insulin sensitivity are mediated by changes in interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-1β. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in 46 overweight and obese women at risk for gestational diabetes mellitus.

Brominated flame retardant concentrations in sera from the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) from 2007 to 2009.

Pooling of surplus serum from individual samples, collected between 2007 and 2009 during Cycle 1 of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS), was performed to develop a national baseline estimate of brominated flame retardants in Canadians. Serum samples were categorized by sex and distributed by five age groups ranging from 6 to 79years. Nearly 5000 (4583) serum samples were used to form 59 composite pools.

Longitudinal relationship of physical activity with insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese pregnant women.

Background: Physical activity (PA) initiated in the second half of pregnancy does not affect (or modify) insulin sensitivity in normal weight women. However, this might be different in obese women with lower insulin sensitivity.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that in overweight and obese women at risk for gestational diabetes, PA is related to improved maternal glucose and insulin metabolism in pregnancy.

Validation and responsiveness of the AQuAA for measuring physical activity in overweight and obese pregnant women.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the validity and responsiveness of the self-report Activity Questionnaire for Adults and Adolescents for use in overweight and obese pregnant women.

Design: Longitudinal study with measurements at 17, 24 and 32 weeks of pregnancy.

Methods: Overweight and obese pregnant women (n=55) were asked to wear an accelerometer (Actigraph model ActiTrainer) and fill out the AQuAA at 17, 24 and 32 weeks of pregnancy.

Circulating metals and persistent organic pollutant concentrations in Canadian and non-Canadian born primiparous women from five Canadian centres: results of a pilot biomonitoring study.

The developing foetus is thought to be at increased risk from exposure to environmental contaminants; however, developmental exposure data is notably lacking for many contaminants. Moreover, potential regional differences or effect of place of birth on residue levels measured in pregnant women is also unknown. Therefore, as part of a multinational biomonitoring study, 125 primiparous pregnant Canadian women were recruited from five Canadian centres (Vancouver, Calgary, Hamilton, Ottawa, and Halifax).