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In recent decades there have been significant changes in the conceptualization of reading as well as in the perception of how this activity should be assessed. Interest in the analysis of reading processes has led to the emergence of new explanatory models based primarily on the contributions of cognitive psychology. In parallel, there have been notable advances in measurement procedures, especially in models based on Item Response Theory (IRT), as well as in the capacity and performance of specific software programs that allow data to be managed and analyzed. These changes have contributed significantly to the rise of testing procedures such as computerized adaptive tests (CATs), whose fundamental characteristic is that the sequence of items presented in the tests is adapted to the level of competence that the subject manifests. Likewise, the incorporation of elements of dynamic assessment (DA) as the prompts are gradually offered allows for obtaining information about the type and degree of support required to optimize the subject’s performance. In this sense, the confluence of contributions from DA and CATs offers a new possibility for approaching the assessment of learning processes. In this article, we present a longitudinal research developed in two phases, through which a computerized dynamic adaptive assessment battery of reading processes (EDPL-BAI) was configured. The research frame involved 1,831 students (46% girls) from 13 public schools in three regions of Chile. The purpose of this study was to analyze the differential contribution on reading competence of dynamic scores obtained in a subsample composed of 324 (47% girls) students from third to sixth grade after the implementation of a set of adaptive dynamic tests of morpho-syntactic processes. The results achieved in the structural equation modeling indicate a good global fit. Individual relationships show a significant contribution of calibrated score that reflects estimated knowledge level on reading competence, as well as dynamic scores based on the assigned value of graduated prompts required by the students. These results showed significant predictive values on reading competence and incremental validity in relation to predictions made by static criterion tests.

The monosaccharide anhydrides (MAs) levoglucosan, galactosan and mannosan are products of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis of cellulose and hemicelluloses, and are found to be major constituents of biomass burning (BB) aerosol particles. Hence, ambient aerosol particle concentrations of levoglucosan are commonly used to study the influence of residential wood burning, agricultural waste burning and wildfire emissions on ambient air quality. A European-wide intercomparison on the analysis of the three monosaccharide anhydrides was conducted based on ambient aerosol quartz fiber filter samples collected at a Norwegian urban background site during winter. Thus, the samples' content of MAs is representative for BB particles originating from residential wood burning. The purpose of the intercomparison was to examine the comparability of the great diversity of analytical methods used for analysis of levoglucosan, mannosan and galactosan in ambient aerosol filter samples. Thirteen laboratories participated, of which three applied high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC), four used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and six resorted to gas chromatography (GC). The analytical methods used were of such diversity that they should be considered as thirteen different analytical methods. All of the thirteen laboratories reported levels of levoglucosan, whereas nine reported data for mannosan and/or galactosan. Eight of the thirteen laboratories reported levels for all three isomers. The accuracy for levoglucosan, presented as the mean percentage error (PE) for each participating laboratory, varied from −63 to 20%; however, for 62% of the laboratories the mean PE was within ±10%, and for 85% the mean PE was within ±20%. For mannosan, the corresponding range was −60 to 69%, but as for levoglucosan, the range was substantially smaller for a subselection of the laboratories; i.e. for 33% of the laboratories the mean PE was within ±10%. For galactosan, the mean PE for the participating laboratories ranged from −84 to 593%, and as for mannosan 33% of the laboratories reported a mean PE within ±10%. The variability of the various analytical methods, as defined by their minimum and maximum PE value, was typically better for levoglucosan than for mannosan and galactosan, ranging from 3.2 to 41% for levoglucosan, from 10 to 67% for mannosan and from 6 to 364% for galactosan. For the levoglucosan to mannosan ratio, which may be used to assess the relative importance of softwood versus hardwood burning, the variability only ranged from 3.5 to 24 . To our knowledge, this is the first major intercomparison on analytical methods used to quantify monosaccharide anhydrides in ambient aerosol filter samples conducted and reported in the scientific literature. The results show that for levoglucosan the accuracy is only slightly lower than that reported for analysis of SO42- (sulfate) on filter samples, a constituent that has been analysed by numerous laboratories for several decades, typically by ion chromatography and which is considered a fairly easy constituent to measure. Hence, the results obtained for levoglucosan with respect to accuracy are encouraging and suggest that levels of levoglucosan, and to a lesser extent mannosan and galactosan, obtained by most of the analytical methods currently used to quantify monosaccharide anhydrides in ambient aerosol filter samples, are comparable. Finally, the various analytical methods used in the current study should be tested for other aerosol matrices and concentrations as well, the most obvious being summertime aerosol samples affected by wildfires and/or agricultural fires.

The purpose of this study was investigating the effectiveness of Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT) on reducing symptoms of children with autism disorder.Twenty four autistic children (30-54 months old) were selected from a rehabilitation center in Tehran and assigned randomly in to two equal groups of experimental and control groups. The experimental group received 70 sessions (3 days per week, 20 minutes for each session) of RIT through the intervention. The GARZ questionnaire was used as the pre-test and the post-test for the two groups. ANCOVA analysis showed that there were significant differences between mean scores of autisticsymptoms (social interaction, communication and stereotype movements) in two groups. This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of naturalistic behavioral interventionfor improving autistic symptoms in young autistic children.

Scabies is an infestation of the skin by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. A more severe form called crusted or Norwegian scabies may occur in immunosuppressed patients and the elderly. Crusted scabies mostly differs from normal scabies by the exuberance of its lesions, body distribution and high contagiousness, and requires different and more prolonged treatment. Early recognition of the lesions and isolation precautions are crucial for disease control and prevention of transmission. The authors describe a clinical case of crusted scabies with pruritus and exuberant cutaneous lesions.

El artículo presenta una evaluación del nivel de implementación de las políticas de infancia y adolescencia en los gobiernos locales de dos regiones de Chile. Se da cuenta de aspectos como los programas implementados, las planificaciones desarrolladas, las redes construidas, los recursos invertidos y la institucionalización que alcanzan estos aspectos. Posteriormente, se desarrolla un análisis multinivel que evalúa estos elementos a la luz de las condiciones municipales y la complejidad del contexto de cada comuna. Los resultados muestran que el nivel de implementación de políticas de infancia no depende de las condiciones del municipio, por lo que se releva la importancia de la voluntad política de las autoridades locales para su desarrollo.

Lesões cutâneas pigmentadas por vezes são mal diagnosticadas devido às semelhanças entre as lesões melanocíticas e não-melanocíticas. Relatamos o caso de um doente com uma lesão pigmentada, clinicamente sugestiva de melanoma. Quando analisada com dermatoscopia, é possível observar características, nomeadamente áreas “leaf-like”, que nos permitem fazer o diagnóstico de carcinoma basocelular pigmentado. Este caso representa uma situação clínica em que o exame clinico isoladamente pode levar a um diagnóstico incorreto, mas que com o apoio da dermatoscopia foi feito corretamente.

The selective determination of the diamine ethylenediamine (EDA) in the presence of a higher amount of residual dimethylamine in cationic polymers has been developed. The strategy uses both a solution derivatization with a selective agent of primary amines such as o-phthaldialdehyde-N-acetyl-L-cysteine (OPA-NAC) and an intube solid-phase microextraction (IT-SPME) coupled to liquid chromatography (LC). A 70 cm long, 0.32 mm internal diameter, and 3 [micro]m thick commercially available capillary column coated with 95% polydimethylsiloxane and 5% polydiphenylsiloxane was employed to replace the injection loop of a Rheodyne injection valve. A volume of 1 mL of derivatized sample was passed through the capillary, and 100 [micro]L of water was later used for cleaning and filling the capillary. After, the injection was effected and the desorption of the derivative from the capillary was carried out in the dynamic mode using the mobile phase. Chromatographic separation was performed in less than 2 min using a monolithic silica column Onyx (100 mm x 3.0 mm i.d.) under isocratic conditions. The effect of several parameters affecting derivatization and IT-SPME was investigated. The quantification of EDA was realized over the range of 0.07-2 [micro]g/mL with adequate linearity, accuracy, and reproducibility, and the limit of detection was 20 ng/mL. The method is rapid and low in cost, and sample handling and organic solvent consumption have been minimized. Its application to polymeric cationic surfactants used in water treatment allowed the selective quantification of residual EDA at low microgram per milliliter levels of concentration without off-line preconcentration.

Context: In this review, we tried to evaluate the incidence, prognosis and treatment options in patients with iatrogenic pathology of the aortic artery due to interventional procedures in cardiology. Evidence Acquisition: Our search strategy involved an investigation in the PUBMED database for every available article in peer reviewed journals between 1975 and 2015, for subjects related to iatrogenic pathology of the aortic artery, following interventional procedures in cardiology (coronary angiography or angioplasty, trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) counterpulsation placement). Results: Iatrogenic pathology of the aorta is a rare, but potentially lethal complication of invasive vascular techniques. The development of these complications should be considered in cases of unexplained hypotension, acidosis or lower limb ischemia after catheter-based interventions. With increased experience, most of the vascular complications associated with the transfemoral approach may be managed percutaneously. Conclusions: With the increase in interventional procedures in cardiology, iatrogenic pathology of the aorta is seen more frequently, and every cardiologist should know how to diagnose and treat this group of diseases.

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