El mejor sistema de educación del mundo...

Finlandia: viaje por uno de los mejores sistemas educativos del mundo

Tienen pocas horas de clase y casi no hacen tareas, pero arrasan en las temidas pruebas Pisa.

Por:  CLAUDIA GUZMÁN V. | 

9:07 p.m. | 13 de octubre de 2014

Foto: Bernardo Bejarano / EL TIEMPO

Escuela primaria Koulumestarin, en la ciudad de Espoo, área metropolitana de Helsinki.

Si un niño quisiera escapar de la escuela, tal vez se preguntaría: ¿Qué tan larga debe ser la escalera que necesito apoyar en ese muro de tres metros que me separa del exterior? Esa interrogante se la hacen todos los finlandeses en algún momento. Y no es porque planeen dejar el lugar donde comparten con sus amigos desde los 7 años de edad, donde pasan apenas unas cinco horas al día, donde no les dejan tareas para la casa y donde no les cobran por estudiar ni por comer.

No. Ellos se harán esa pregunta –jugando con triángulos y cuadrados de papel de colores– porque un profesor les pedirá imaginar lo inimaginable y, de paso, llegar por ellos mismos a lo que Pitágoras declaró 22 siglos atrás. Calcular la hipotenusa de un triángulo rectángulo es algo que los niños finlandeses, beneficiarios del mejor sistema de educación del mundo, saben hacer y no recitar. Es algo que tuvieron que descubrir y no memorizar.

El mundo entero se ha empeñado en entender el sentido que se le da al aprendizaje en Finlandia desde que la primera prueba Pisa, aplicada en el 2000 por la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económicos (Ocde), demostró que ese país nórdico, de apenas cinco millones de habitantes, tenía el mejor sistema educativo.

Pisa, el Programa para la Evaluación Internacional de Alumnos (sigla en inglés), se aplica actualmente en 65 países para evaluar las competencias de las personas de 15 años en las áreas de lenguaje, matemática y ciencias. El sentido del examen no es medir conocimientos específicos, sino qué tan preparados para la vida adulta están los jóvenes; en otras palabras, cómo aplican lo que han aprendido en las escuelas hasta esa edad.

Completo aquí:  http://www.eltiempo.com/estilo-de-vida/educacion/modelo-de-educacion-de-finlandia-uno-de-los-mejores-del-mundo/14678295?hootPostID=7dae6d810ee6e3428f1e730029321f6e

¿Qué hace el azúcar con nuestro cerebro?

Publicado: 9 oct 2014 | 12:33 GMT Última actualización: 9 oct 2014 | 12:33 GMT

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Texto completo en: http://actualidad.rt.com/ciencias/view/142870-azucar-cerebro-efecto

Fuente: http://actualidad.rt.com/ciencias/view/142870-azucar-cerebro-efecto

EMA Finds Little Evidence That Testosterone Ups CV Risk

Lisa Nainggolan

DisclosuresOctober 10, 2014

There is no consistent evidence that the use of testosterone in men with hypogonadism increases the risk for cardiovascular problems, according to a new review by the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The EMA launched this review regarding the cardiovascular risk for testosterone-containing medicines in April, following a similar announcement by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier in the year.

Now the PRAC says the evidence concerning the risks of serious cardiovascular side effects with these medicines "is inconsistent." While some studies do suggest an increased risk for cardiac problems in men using testosterone compared with men not taking it, these had some limitations, and other studies did not confirm this risk.
The committee has determined that the benefits of testosterone continue to outweigh its risks but stresses that testosterone-containing medicines should be used only where lack of testosterone has been confirmed by signs and symptoms as well as laboratory tests.
The EU product information for all testosterone-containing medicines should therefore be updated to reflect this, and warnings against use of testosterone in men suffering from severe heart, liver, or kidney problems should also be included on all such products, says the PRAC.
And the limited data on safety and effectiveness in patients over 65 years of age need to be recognized, as does the fact that testosterone levels decrease with age and that age-specific testosterone reference values do not exist — this will also need to be highlighted in the product information, the PRAC states.
"The safety of testosterone medicines should continue to be monitored," the PRAC adds. "In particular, a number of studies are still ongoing, and their results will be considered in future regular benefit/risk assessments for these medicines."
The PRAC recommendation will now be forwarded to the Coordination Group for Mutual Recognition and Decentralised Procedures — Human (CMDh), which will adopt a final position.

In the United States, an FDA advisory panel voted nearly unanimously last month to change the labeling for testosterone-replacement products, with the aim of tamping down on the current widespread use there of such agents for "age-related" hypogonadism.

 

Fuente:  http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/833079?nlid=67648_2566&src=wnl_edit_medp_card&spon=2

Study: Egg-rich diet is safe for diabetes patients

Medscape Medical News from the:

• European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 50th Annual Meeting

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Medscape Medical News

Egg-Rich Diet Not Harmful in Type 2 Diabetes

Becky McCall

October 06, 2014

 

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• Dairy Saturated Fats Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk
• Egg Consumption and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke
• Egg or Cholesterol Intake in Older Adults Not Linked to Risk for Type 2 Diabetes

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Drug & Reference Information

• HDL Cholesterol
• Diabetes Mellitus and Pregnancy
• High HDL Cholesterol (Hyperalphalipoproteinemia)

VIENNA — Eggs do not have an adverse effect on lipid levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, a new study indicates. Researchers also found that an egg-rich diet for 3 months was associated with better appetite control and may provide greater satiety.

"These findings suggest that a high egg diet can be included safely as part of the dietary management of patients with type 2 diabetes," remarked Nicholas Fuller, PhD, from the Boden Institute Clinical Trials Unit, University of Sydney, Australia.

He presented his findings as a poster at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes 2014 Meeting last month and explained that the study was motivated by the negative perception widely held toward egg consumption by patients with type 2 diabetes.

Epidemiological studies have also indicated "that high egg consumption, though not associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in the general population, may be associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes," he said.
National guidelines on egg consumption and total dietary cholesterol intake are inconclusive and also vary widely between different countries, he added.
For example, in Australia, the National Heart Foundation recommends a maximum of 6 eggs per week as part of a diet low in saturated fatty acids for healthy people and in those with type 2 diabetes. However, in the US, guidelines recommend dietary cholesterol be limited to less than 300 mg/day (1 egg has approximately 200 mg of cholesterol) for healthy individuals and suggest that those with type 2 diabetes stick to less than 4 eggs per week.
Dr. Fuller added that, "there is a lack of good-quality prospective data on the effects of high egg consumption in this group [type 2 diabetes patients]."

Trend Toward Increase in HDL in High Egg Group

The prospective, randomized controlled study led by Dr. Fuller explored health outcomes in people on a high egg diet who had either prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.
The trial was also a weight-maintenance study: subjects attended the clinic monthly and were given a written guide as to the specific types of foods and quantities that could be consumed, with particular emphasis on improving management of diabetes and replacing foods containing saturated fats with foods containing monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats.
The trial lasted for 3 months, a duration in which a change in cholesterol levels can become evident.

A total of 140 participants with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 25 mg/m² were recruited to either a low egg group (less than 2 eggs per week and protein intake to match that of the high egg group) or 2 eggs per day at breakfast for 6 days per week (high egg group). Lipids were assessed in each group.

The findings showed no significant difference between the 2 groups in levels of HDL cholesterol over the study period. But in the high egg group, there was a within-group trend toward an improvement in HDL of 0.034 mmol/L (P = .07).

There were no differences found between the 2 groups with respect to low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, or glycemic control.
Commenting on the hint at an improvement in HDL in the high egg group, Dr. Fuller suggested that this might be a possible area of future research to confirm whether a high egg diet in those with type 2 diabetes does in fact raise HDL cholesterol.
"Interventions that are associated with increases in HDL cholesterol have been shown to reduce cardiovascular events in people with type 2 diabetes. A further improvement in HDL cholesterol may have been found if the study was of longer duration, if it had been a crossover design, or if a larger sample size had been used," he speculated.

Less Boredom, More Satisfaction, With Egg Diet

And despite both groups being matched for protein intake, the high egg group reported less hunger and greater satiety after meals, Dr. Fuller reported.

"Eggs may also help with greater weight loss and less weight regain than a conventional diet, due to the greater satiety and less hunger reported with a high egg diet," he told Medscape Medical News.

Both diets were well accepted, but the high egg group reported a significantly greater enjoyment of foods, less boredom, and more satisfaction with the diet.
The work is expected to be published later this month.

The study was supported by a research grant from the Australian Egg Corporation.

European Association for the Study of Diabetes; September 17, 2014; Vienna, Austria. Abstract 777 

5 Misteriosos artefactos antiguos

7

historia / 09/10/14
Algunos hallazgos arqueológicos no pueden ser completamente explicados por la ciencia. Conoce algunos de ellos:

Mecanismo de Anticitera
Buzos recuperaron este enigmático objeto de un barco naufragado en 1900, frente a las costas de Anticitera, entre las islas griegas de Citera y Creta. El corroído mecanismo se compone de un conjunto engranajes de bronce, signos e inscripciones astronómicas en el antiguo dialecto corintio-siracusano, sugiriendo que data del 87a.C.

Tras ser analizado bajo rayos X, se encontró que era mucho más complejo de lo que aparentaba, conteniendo un sofisticado sistema de ruedas dentadas cuya existencia no se conocía hasta 1575. Estudios posteriores revelaron que se trataba de una antigua calculadora mecánica, diseñada para seguir el movimiento de los cuerpos celestes.  Aún se desconoce quién construyó el asombroso instrumento hace 2,000 años o cómo se perdió esta tecnología.


Batería de Bagdad
En 1936, trabajadores del Departamento Estatal Iraquí del Ferrocarril descubrieron una vieja tumba en la aldea de Kujut Rabua. En su interior , hallaron un inusual recipientes de arcilla. Tenía forma de jarrón y medía 14cm de alto por 4cm de diámetro. Dentro portaba un cilindro de cobre fijado con asfalto, y al interior del cilindro había una vara de hierro.

El curioso artefacto data del periodo parto (entre 248a.C y 226 d.C.). Expertos concluyeron que se trataba de una pila, que al ser llenada con un líquido ácido o alcalino producía una carga eléctrica. Durante un experimento, se le introdujo un electrolito y conectó a una lámpara, logró encenderla aun después de tantos años. Lamentablemente, la batería se perdió durante los saqueos provocador por la invasión de Irak en 2003.

Algunos escépticos desconfían del aparato, otros creen que era utilizado para realizar galvanoplastia sobre objetos con oro. De ser así, ¿cómo se logró esta tecnología tan avanzada a su tiempo?


Bolas de Costa Rica
En la década de 1930, trabajadores de la compañía bananera estadounidense United Fruit Company deforestaban la jungla de Costa Rica cuando descubrieron un conjunto de sorprendentes objetos: decenas de bolas de piedra, la mayoría perfectamente esféricas. Su tamaño variaba desde el de una pelota de tenis a enormes petroesferas de sorprendente 8 pies de diámetro y un peso de 16 toneladas dos metros y medio de diámetro y 16 toneladas.

Los arqueólogos estiman que fueron colocadas en la llanura aluvial del delta del río Diqu íspor los indígenas de la zona, entre el 300 a.C. y el 300d.C. Sin embargo, aún se desconoce cómo y cuándo se esculpieron, ni cuál era su propósito.
En 2014, la Unesco declaró el conjunto de esferas de piedra precolombinas Patrimonio de la Humanidad, y la Asamblea Legislativa de Costa Rica las nombró símbolo nacional del país.

Aviones precolombinos
Cerca del río Otún, en Colombia, fueron encontradas decenas de figuras de oro y bronce pertenecientes a la cultura quimbaya, datando alrededor del 1000 d.C. Curiosamente algunas de estas figuras, que miden entre 5cm y 7.5cm, parecen representar aviones modernos de mediados del siglo XX, inexistentes en aquella época.

Actualmente, los llamados artefactos de quimbaya se encuentran exhibidos en el Museo de Oro en Bogotá, donde son presentados como figuras zoomorfas, respresentantes del estilo de la cultura, y no como aeroplanos. ¿Pájaros o antiguos aviones?


Mapa de Piri Reis
Este mapa representa un enigma, no sólo por su notable precisión, sino también por lo que muestra. Trazado sobre piel de gacela por el almirante y cartógrafo otomano Piri Reis en 1513, representa claramente a Sudamérica, posicionado en relación a África, así como las costas occidentales de África del Norte y Europa y la costa este de Brasil.

Más impresionante aún, es que detalla un continente en el extremo sur, donde ahora sabemos que yace la Atártida, la cual no fue descubierta sino hasta 1820. Curiosamente, el territorio aparece con gran detalle pero sin hielo, que ha cubierto la Antártida desde hace al menos 6,000 años.

Los márgenes del mapa revelan algunas de sus fuentes, como las cartografías de Cristóbal Colón halladas en 1501 e informes de un marinero que realizó los primeros viajes colombinos. Sin embargo, también contiene misteriosos escritos de Reis indicando a "los antiguos reyes del mar" como sus informantes. Actualmente se encuentra en el Museo Topkapi Sarayi de Estambul, donde no está disponible al público.



Fuente: http://www.muyinteresante.com.mx/historia/776692/misteriosos-objetos-arqueologicos/

Fossil Clue Found To Epic Ancient Battle Between Huge Predators

September 30, 2014 | by Stephen Luntz

photo credit: A 3D printed replica (blue) and teeth from ancient crocodile relatives found to have preyed on other huge predators

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A buried tooth has rewritten our thinking about how the apex predators of the Triassic interacted. Modern clashes between crocodiles and lions have nothing on what occurred where land met sea more than 200 million years ago. This discovery could help explain a mystery of the era's ecology.

Just as the extinction of the dinosaurs gave mammals a chance to flourish, a previous extinction event removed dominant species and allowed the dinosaurs to take over the planet. Before the Triassic-Jurassic extinction event, Rauisuchians topped the food chain in most terrestrial environments. Meanwhile, "Phytosaurs were thought to be dominant aquatic predators because of their large size and similarity to modern crocodylians," says Dr Michelle Stocker of Virginia Tech.

Paleontologists doubted these two giants interacted much.

In Naturwissenschaften, Stocker and Dr Stephanie Drumheller of the University of Tennessee report finding a phytosaur tooth lodged in the thigh bone of a rauisuchid they estimate at 8m long. 

"Finding teeth embedded directly in fossil bone is very, very rare," Drumheller says. "This is the first time it's been identified among phytosaurs, and it gives us a smoking gun for interpreting this set of bite marks."

The tooth broke off in the battle and embedded 5cm deep into the bone, which then healed over, indicating the rauisuchid lived for a long time after surviving the attack. Other puncture marks can also be detected.

Chris Hayes, University of Tennessee. Artist's reconstruction of the battle.

The discovery is a reminder of the value of specimens waiting to be studied in museums, in this case the University of California Museum of Paleontology. "There are many bones that get dug up, not all are immediately processed, prepared, and studied. No one had recognized the importance of this specimen before but we were able to borrow it and make our study,” says co-author Dr Sterling Nesbitt of Virginia Tech. The team used CT scans and a 3-D printer to replicate the bone, concluding that the rauisuchid was attacked by a phytosaur on at least one other occasion.

The same paper also reports another specimen from the same 220-210 million year old formation that provides insight into feeding behavior. A second femur shows unhealed bite marks, which the authors write, indicates “the animal either did not survive the attack or was scavenged soon after death.” The shape and spacing of the marks indicate a phytosaur was responsible in this case as well.

The authors add, “These marks provide an opportunity to start exploring the seemingly unbalanced terrestrial ecosystems from the Late Triassic of North America, in which large carnivores far outnumber herbivores in terms of both abundance and diversity.”

“Both of the femora we examined came from some of the physically largest carnivorous species present at both locations. Yet they were targeted by other members of the region—specifically phytosaurs,” says Drumheller. “Thus, size cannot be the only factor in determining who is at the top of the food chain.” 

http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/clue-found-epic-ancient-battle

15-Ton Prehistoric Shark Captured Off Coast Of Pakistan

Esto si es noticia !

15-TON PREHISTORIC SHARK CAPTURED OFF COAST OF PAKISTAN

Karachi | A giant prehistoric shark previously thought to be extinct for more than 20 million years has been captured by local fishermen off the coast of Pakistan, reports the Islamabad Herald this morning.

The giant creature first thought to be a great white shark was rapidly declared by experts to be an unknown species of shark as it’s great weight and size were unheard of. Analysis of the teeth suggest the shark to be a parent of the Megalodon, an extinct species of shark that lived approximately 28 to 1.5 million years ago, during the Cenozoic Era.

The sea creature that measures an incredible 10.4 meters and weighs an astounding 15.6 tons is the largest living shark ever caught to date, great white sharks reaching an impressive 7 tons at full growth, a size that is no match for this giant prehistoric shark that can reach an imposing 20 meters in length and possibly weight up to 30 tons, depending on estimates.

More than 20 local fishermen were needed to haul the giant beast onto the shore before authorities later brought heavy machinery in

“This is an incredible opportunity to work on a real specimen instead of trying to figure out the whole picture from different fossil composites” admits Smithsonian paleontologist Jeff Mayor, visibly enthused by the discovery.

The specimen was revealed not to be fully grown and is estimated to be 2 or 3 years old and already twice the size of a full grown white shark, which takes 5 years to reach its full growth.

A quick autopsy revealed the creature lives under great depths, feeding on giant squid and other fish not commonly found near the surface, which makes the discovery even more incredible to experts.

“Are rising sea temperatures forcing these beasts to come up closer to the shores or was this animal simply hurt and suffering from a disorienting handicap, these questions are left unanswered” claims local marine biologist Rajar Muhammar.

The giant sea creature had a total of 276 teeth in its jaws, spanning 5 rows with it’s biggest tooth measuring an incredible 15 cm

The recent discovery has raised great enthusiasm from experts abroad who are pondering the fact that other thought to be extinct species might still be dwelling in the depths of the seas. “This is very exciting news for the future of ocean exploration as technology is permitting us to go deeper and deeper every day” explains marine biologist Suzan Chopper from the University of Sydney, Australia. “I just don’t know how well our submarines would do against a giant monster like this” she adds.

- See more at: http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/15-ton-prehistoric-shark-captured-off-coast-of-pakistan/#sthash.A9jx43f5.dpuf

http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/15-ton-prehistoric-shark-captured-off-coast-of-pakistan/