Environmental identity formation in nonformal environmental education programs

This paper explores experiences that remained salient in the memories of former participants in three nature-based programs in Colorado, five to forty years after childhood involvement. Interviews with program founders and staff, archival research, and observations of current activities provided an understanding of each program’s history, mission and educational approach. In this context, 18 former participants were interviewed about program experiences that they remembered and program impacts on their environmental identities and academic or career choices. Results were analyzed through the lens of social practice theory, which has significant implications for the design and evaluation of environmental education programs. Results showed that social practice theory is a useful framework for interpreting the development of a social environmental identity, but an ecological identity that forms through direct contact with the natural world is an important complementary concept.     

Ischemia modified albumin: A novel marker for acute coronary syndrome

Early identification of patients with acute myocardial infarction is of prime importance due to the associated very high mortality. Only 22% of the patients presenting at emergency cardiology care with chest pain have coronary disease. A number of biochemical tests like CKMB and Troponin-T/I have been introduced for early detection of the coronary syndrome (ACS). Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) has been recently introduced as a marker of myocardial ischemia. We estimated serum IMA in four sequential samples from 25 patients admitted to ICCU. Twenty five healthy volunteers formed the control group from which the normal range was derived. IMA was significantly raised in ischemia patients than in controls as well as compared to the patients who did not have cardiac ischemia. IMA demonstrated good discrimination between the ischemic and the non-ischemic patients with an Odds Ratio of 16.9 (6.29–46.87) than CKMB which showed an Odds Ratio of 2.07 (1.18–6.08). Sensitivity and specificity of IMA for the detection of ACS was 78.0% and 82.7% compared to 58.0% and 60.0%, respectively for the CK-MB assay. The area under the ROC curve of IMA for ischemic v/s non-ischemic patients was 0.834. IMA appears to be developing into a new and very potent marker, of cardiac ischemia.     

Application of Sigma Metrics for the Assessment of Quality Assurance in Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory in India: A Pilot Study

Ensuring quality of laboratory services is the need of the hour in the field of health care. Keeping in mind the revolution ushered by six sigma concept in corporate world, health care sector may reap the benefits of the same. Six sigma provides a general methodology to describe performance on sigma scale. We aimed to gauge our laboratory performance by sigma metrics. Internal quality control (QC) data was analyzed retrospectively over a period of 6 months from July 2009 to December 2009. Laboratory mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation were calculated for all the parameters. Sigma was calculated for both the levels of internal QC. Satisfactory sigma values (>6) were elicited for creatinine, triglycerides, SGOT, CPK-Total and Amylase. Blood urea performed poorly on the sigma scale with sigma <3. The findings of our exercise emphasize the need for detailed evaluation and adoption of ameliorative measures in order to effectuate six sigma standards for all the analytical processes.     

Emotional climate of a pre-service science teacher education class in Bhutan

This study explored pre-service secondary science teachers’ perceptions of classroom emotional climate in the context of the Bhutanese macro-social policy of Gross National Happiness. Drawing upon sociological perspectives of human emotions and using Interaction Ritual Theory this study investigated how pre-service science teachers may be supported in their professional development. It was a multi-method study involving video and audio recordings of teaching episodes supported by interviews and the researcher’s diary. Students also registered their perceptions of the emotional climate of their classroom at 3-minute intervals using audience response technology. In this way, emotional events were identified for video analysis. The findings of this study highlighted that the activities pre-service teachers engaged in matter to them. Positive emotional climate was identified in activities involving students’ presentations using video clips and models, coteaching, and interactive whole class discussions. Decreases in emotional climate were identified during formal lectures and when unprepared presenters led presentations. Emotions such as frustration and disappointment characterized classes with negative emotional climate. The enabling conditions to sustain a positive emotional climate are identified. Implications for sustaining macro-social policy about Gross National Happiness are considered in light of the climate that develops in science teacher education classes.     

藏药知识产权保护刻不容缓

本文通过对藏医药的学术地位和产业发展地位等等方面的简要介绍,阐述知识产权保护对弘扬藏医药文化和保持我区在此领域的优势地位,推动藏药产业的健康、持续发展所具有的重要意义,并力图通过本文让更多的人认识知识产权作为无形资产和竞争武器的重要价值,增强我区藏医药界对知识产权保护与利用的意识,并切实把藏药知识产权的保护提到议事日程上来,以促进藏药产业的健康、有序和规范化发展。     

Biochemical markers of liver and kidney function are influenced by thyroid function-a case-controlled follow up study in Indian hypothyroid subjects

Thyroid hormones regulate the renal hemodynamics and basal metabolic rate of most cells. This hospital-based case-control study was done to evaluate the changes in biochemical markers of liver and kidney function in hypothyroid subjects before and after treatment. The study included 176 subjects randomly selected from Thyroid clinics. Serum T₃, T₄, TSH, Liver and Kidney Function tests were analysed using standard kits. Forty-six hypothyroid patients were re-evaluated 6 weeks after thyroxine substitution therapy. Hypothyroid subjects (n=80) showed significantly raised serum creatinine and uric acid levels as compared to euthyroid subjects (n=96). After 6 weeks of thyroxine replacement, serum creatinine and uric acid decreased significantly and were comparable to euthyroid group. A positive correlation of ALT, AST, uric acid, protein and albumin with TSH levels (p<0.05) and negative correlation of serum T₄ levels with ALT, AST, proteins (p<0.05) was observed in the hypothyroid group. Hypothyroidism results in reversible impairment of hepatorenal function.     

Dyslipidemia Associated with Poor Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and the Protective Effect of Metformin Supplementation

The nature of the dyslipidemia associated with diabetes mellitus is complex and is the major risk factor for atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Aim of this study was to assess the effect of glycemic control, achieved by metformin, glibenclamide and insulin, on lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients. One hundred and sixty-five type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were classified into good glycemic control (Group I) and poor glycemic control (Group II) on the basis of their blood HbA1c values. The Group II was characterized with high serum triglyceride (190.46 ± 15.20 mg/dl), total cholesterol (175.3 ± 6.31 mg/dl) as well as high LDL-cholesterol (109.0 ± 5.88 mg/dl). Significant correlations were evident between HbA1c and dyslipidemia, particularly serum TG (r = 0.28, P < 0.05), and between HbA1c and total cholesterol (r = 0.310, P < 0.05). Better glycemic control and improved dyslipidemia were observed in patients on combination therapy of metformin plus glibenclamide.     

心力衰竭的治疗进展

20世纪80年代以前，心力衰竭一直被认为是一种循环系统的血液动力学障碍，左心室功能减退时，心排出量和组织灌注减少导致代偿性心率和前后负荷增加以增加心排出量和组织灌注。主要药物为洋地黄类和利尿剂。虽然这两类药物改善病人的临床症状和生活质量。但无临床试验的证据表明它可降低病人的总病死率延长病人的生存期、改善病人预后。目前认为心力衰竭的进一步发展、