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Abstract Background Science curricula and teachers should emphasize evolution in a manner commensurate with its importance as a unifying concept in science. The concept of adaptation represents a first step to understand the results of natural selection. We settled an experimental project of alternative didactic to improve knowledge of organism adaptation. Students were involved and stimulated in learning processes by creative activities. To set adaptation in a historic frame, fossil records as evidence of past life and evolution were considered. Results The experimental project is schematized in nine phases: review of previous knowledge; lesson on fossils; lesson on fantastic animals; planning an imaginary world; creation of an imaginary animal; revision of the imaginary animals; adaptations of real animals; adaptations of fossil animals; and public exposition. A rubric to evaluate the student's performances is reported. The project involved professors and students of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and of the "G. Marconi" Secondary School of First Degree (Modena, Italy). Conclusion The educational objectives of the project are in line with the National Indications of the Italian Ministry of Public Instruction: knowledge of the characteristics of living beings, the meanings of the term "adaptation", the meaning of fossils, the definition of ecosystem, and the particularity of the different biomes. At the end of the project, students will be able to grasp particular adaptations of real organisms and to deduce information about the environment in which the organism evolved. This project allows students to review previous knowledge and to form their personalities.

Introduction: The prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized patients is still high. Hospital malnutrition has a prevalence of 53%, reaching 62% in patients older than 70 years. A prospective study was carried out in which the repercussion of the nutritional evaluation in elderly inpatients was evaluated, followed by nutritional supplementation in those found malnourished. Material and Method: Nutritional assessment was performed by applying the MNA (Mini Nutricional Assessment) to 13 elderly inpatients, treating them with nutritional supplements based on their type of malnutrition (normal or high protein content) and nutritional parameters were evaluated (body weight, albumin and PCR values) before and after its feedback. Results: Nutritional supplementation was performed during a month in 13 patients, observing a statistically significant difference between the baseline values and postsupplementation in albuminemia (0.35 g / L, range: 0.1-0.6), body weight (2%, range: 1.3 to 2.7), and ultrasensitive PCR (12.5, range: 0.5 - 24.5). Conclusion: Nutritional assessment is essential in the elderly hospitalized in order to combat their tendency to malnutrition and thus prevent their complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]