The Effectiveness Of Iccwl In Reducing Misconceptions And Supporting Decision Making And Problem-Solving Skills Of Form 2 Students

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of humankind in this century. There is an urgent need to foster climate change awareness and knowledge among young people to preserve the environment for the future generation. Education is an essential element of the global response to climate change. The purpose of this study is to measure the effect of interactive climate change web-based learning (ICCWL) in overcoming misconceptions about climate change on the Greenhouse effect (GHE), Global warming (GW), Acid rain (AR) and Ozone layer depletion (OLD), enhancing the ability to make decisions and to solve problems on climate change among Form Two students. A total of 123 Form Two students from a suburban school in Malaysia involved in this study. The participating was school randomly identified from the population of 27 secondary schools in Kulim district. The students were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group consisted of 63 students; the control group consisted of 60 students. The research used both intervention mixed-method design and qualitative methods. The study performed in three stages. In the first stage, interviews were conducted with students and teachers and followed by the document analysis to design the Interactive Climate Change Web Learning (ICCWL). In the second stage, the effects of the treatment on misconceptions and decision-making ability were measured. For this purpose, the Atmosphere Related Environmental Problem Diagnostic Test (AREPDiT) and Decision-making Questionnaire (DMQ) were administered during pre and post-tests

DCLK1 and DNA Damage Response

Genome integrity is constantly monitored by sophisticated cellular networks, collectively termed as the DNA damage response (DDR). The DDR is a signaling network that includes cell cycle checkpoints and DNA repair and damage tolerance pathways. Failure of the DDR or associated events causes various diseases, including cancer. DDR is primarily mediated by phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-like protein kinase (PIKKs) family members ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR). However, one of the many unanswered questions regarding these signal-transduction pathways is: how does the cell turn the DDR signals on? There was no conclusive demonstration of the involvement of a specific sensory kinase in DDR signals until our recent research on the DCLK1 role in regulating ATM after genotoxic injury. Currently, various studies are demonstrating the importance of DCLK1 in DNA damage response. Here, we discuss the novel insights into the role of DCLK1 in DNA damage response

Učinkovitost biljnog pripravka protiv cekalne kokcidioze u tovnih pilića

The anticoccidial efficacy of a herbal complex consisting of Solanum nigram (35%), Aloe vera (15%), Moringa indica (35%) and Mentha arvensis (15%) was tested against Eimeria tenella infection in broilers. Thirty day old broiler chicks were divided into 5 experimental groups, each group having 6 chicks, and were maintained on an anticoccidial free diet. Groups A, B, C and D were challenged with 30,000 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella at day 28 of age, while group E served as the uninfected unmedicated control. After 3 days of challenge infection, the birds belonging to groups A and B were treated with herbal complex at the dose rate of 5 and 10% for 7 days continuously. Group C was fed with Salinomycin mixed feed for the same period. In the treatment groups, the birds that received 10% (group B) herbal complex showed better body mass gain between the 4th and 5th weeks (344.34 ± 59.81gm), superior feed conversion ratio (1.77 ± 0.43) and moderate caecal length (11.5 ± 1.19 cm). However, there was no significant difference in the oocyst output between all the treated and control groups. The body mass gain, FCR and caecal length of the uninfected unmedicated group were 461.86 ± 87.03, 1.70 ± 0.46 and 16.9 ± 1.2 cm respectively. Mortality of birds was recorded in groups A and D only.Protukokcidijska učinkovitost biljnoga pripravka sastavljenoga od biljaka Solanum nigram 35%, Aloe vera 15%, Moringa indica 35% i Mentha arvensis 15% istražena je na tovnim pilićima invadiranima kokcidijom Eimeria tenella. Trideset jednodnevnih pilića bilo je podijeljeno u pet pokusnih skupina. U svakoj skupini bilo je šest pilića, koji su do pokusa bili hranjeni krmivom bez protukokcidijskih sredstava. Pilići skupina A, B, C i D bili su u dobi od 28 dana invadirani s 30 000 sporuliranih oocisti E. tenella. Pilići skupine E bili su neinvadirana i neliječena kontrola. Trećega dana nakon izazivačke invazije, pilićima skupina A i B primijenjen je biljni pripravak u količini od 5 do 10% tijekom sedam dana. Skupina C bila je istodobno hranjena krmivom s primiješanim salinomicinom. U pilića skupine B koji su u hrani dobivali 10%-tni biljni pripravak ustanovljen je bolji prirast u razdoblju od 4. do 5. tjedna (344,34 ± 59,81 g), veća iskoristivost hrane (1,77 ± 0,43 g) i srednja dužina slijepog crijeva 11,5 ± 11,9 cm. Nije ustanovljena značajna razlika u broju oocisti između obrađivanih skupina i kontrolne skupine. U neinvadirane i neliječene skupine prirast je iznosio 461,86 ± 87,03, FCR 1,70 ± 0,46, dok je dužina slijepog crijeva iznosila 16,9 ± 1,2 cm. Uginuća su zabilježena samo u skupini A i D

Učinkovitost biljnog pripravka protiv cekalne kokcidioze u tovnih pilića

The anticoccidial efficacy of a herbal complex consisting of Solanum nigram (35%), Aloe vera (15%), Moringa indica (35%) and Mentha arvensis (15%) was tested against Eimeria tenella infection in broilers. Thirty day old broiler chicks were divided into 5 experimental groups, each group having 6 chicks, and were maintained on an anticoccidial free diet. Groups A, B, C and D were challenged with 30,000 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella at day 28 of age, while group E served as the uninfected unmedicated control. After 3 days of challenge infection, the birds belonging to groups A and B were treated with herbal complex at the dose rate of 5 and 10% for 7 days continuously. Group C was fed with Salinomycin mixed feed for the same period. In the treatment groups, the birds that received 10% (group B) herbal complex showed better body mass gain between the 4th and 5th weeks (344.34 ± 59.81gm), superior feed conversion ratio (1.77 ± 0.43) and moderate caecal length (11.5 ± 1.19 cm). However, there was no significant difference in the oocyst output between all the treated and control groups. The body mass gain, FCR and caecal length of the uninfected unmedicated group were 461.86 ± 87.03, 1.70 ± 0.46 and 16.9 ± 1.2 cm respectively. Mortality of birds was recorded in groups A and D only.Protukokcidijska učinkovitost biljnoga pripravka sastavljenoga od biljaka Solanum nigram 35%, Aloe vera 15%, Moringa indica 35% i Mentha arvensis 15% istražena je na tovnim pilićima invadiranima kokcidijom Eimeria tenella. Trideset jednodnevnih pilića bilo je podijeljeno u pet pokusnih skupina. U svakoj skupini bilo je šest pilića, koji su do pokusa bili hranjeni krmivom bez protukokcidijskih sredstava. Pilići skupina A, B, C i D bili su u dobi od 28 dana invadirani s 30 000 sporuliranih oocisti E. tenella. Pilići skupine E bili su neinvadirana i neliječena kontrola. Trećega dana nakon izazivačke invazije, pilićima skupina A i B primijenjen je biljni pripravak u količini od 5 do 10% tijekom sedam dana. Skupina C bila je istodobno hranjena krmivom s primiješanim salinomicinom. U pilića skupine B koji su u hrani dobivali 10%-tni biljni pripravak ustanovljen je bolji prirast u razdoblju od 4. do 5. tjedna (344,34 ± 59,81 g), veća iskoristivost hrane (1,77 ± 0,43 g) i srednja dužina slijepog crijeva 11,5 ± 11,9 cm. Nije ustanovljena značajna razlika u broju oocisti između obrađivanih skupina i kontrolne skupine. U neinvadirane i neliječene skupine prirast je iznosio 461,86 ± 87,03, FCR 1,70 ± 0,46, dok je dužina slijepog crijeva iznosila 16,9 ± 1,2 cm. Uginuća su zabilježena samo u skupini A i D

Klebsiella pneumoniae is able to trigger epithelial-mesenchymal transition process in cultured airway epithelial cells

The ability of some bacterial pathogens to activate Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition normally is a consequence of the persistence of a local chronic inflammatory response or depends on a direct interaction of the pathogens with the host epithelial cells. In this study we monitored the abilities of the K. pneumoniae to activate the expression of genes related to EMT-like processes and the occurrence of phenotypic changes in airway epithelial cells during the early steps of cell infection. We describe changes in the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species and increased HIF-1α mRNA expression in cells exposed to K. pneumoniae infection. We also describe the upregulation of a set of transcription factors implicated in the EMT processes, such as Twist, Snail and ZEB, indicating that the morphological changes of epithelial cells already appreciable after few hours from the K. pneumoniae infection are tightly regulated by the activation of transcriptional pathways, driving epithelial cells to EMT. These effects appear to be effectively counteracted by resveratrol, an antioxidant that is able to exert a sustained scavenging of the intracellular ROS. This is the first report indicating that strains of K. pneumoniae may promote EMT-like programs through direct interaction with epithelial cells without the involvement of inflammatory cells

Učinkovitost biljnog pripravka protiv cekalne kokcidioze u tovnih pilića

The anticoccidial efficacy of a herbal complex consisting of Solanum nigram (35%), Aloe vera (15%), Moringa indica (35%) and Mentha arvensis (15%) was tested against Eimeria tenella infection in broilers. Thirty day old broiler chicks were divided into 5 experimental groups, each group having 6 chicks, and were maintained on an anticoccidial free diet. Groups A, B, C and D were challenged with 30,000 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella at day 28 of age, while group E served as the uninfected unmedicated control. After 3 days of challenge infection, the birds belonging to groups A and B were treated with herbal complex at the dose rate of 5 and 10% for 7 days continuously. Group C was fed with Salinomycin mixed feed for the same period. In the treatment groups, the birds that received 10% (group B) herbal complex showed better body mass gain between the 4th and 5th weeks (344.34 ± 59.81gm), superior feed conversion ratio (1.77 ± 0.43) and moderate caecal length (11.5 ± 1.19 cm). However, there was no significant difference in the oocyst output between all the treated and control groups. The body mass gain, FCR and caecal length of the uninfected unmedicated group were 461.86 ± 87.03, 1.70 ± 0.46 and 16.9 ± 1.2 cm respectively. Mortality of birds was recorded in groups A and D only.Protukokcidijska učinkovitost biljnoga pripravka sastavljenoga od biljaka Solanum nigram 35%, Aloe vera 15%, Moringa indica 35% i Mentha arvensis 15% istražena je na tovnim pilićima invadiranima kokcidijom Eimeria tenella. Trideset jednodnevnih pilića bilo je podijeljeno u pet pokusnih skupina. U svakoj skupini bilo je šest pilića, koji su do pokusa bili hranjeni krmivom bez protukokcidijskih sredstava. Pilići skupina A, B, C i D bili su u dobi od 28 dana invadirani s 30 000 sporuliranih oocisti E. tenella. Pilići skupine E bili su neinvadirana i neliječena kontrola. Trećega dana nakon izazivačke invazije, pilićima skupina A i B primijenjen je biljni pripravak u količini od 5 do 10% tijekom sedam dana. Skupina C bila je istodobno hranjena krmivom s primiješanim salinomicinom. U pilića skupine B koji su u hrani dobivali 10%-tni biljni pripravak ustanovljen je bolji prirast u razdoblju od 4. do 5. tjedna (344,34 ± 59,81 g), veća iskoristivost hrane (1,77 ± 0,43 g) i srednja dužina slijepog crijeva 11,5 ± 11,9 cm. Nije ustanovljena značajna razlika u broju oocisti između obrađivanih skupina i kontrolne skupine. U neinvadirane i neliječene skupine prirast je iznosio 461,86 ± 87,03, FCR 1,70 ± 0,46, dok je dužina slijepog crijeva iznosila 16,9 ± 1,2 cm. Uginuća su zabilježena samo u skupini A i D

Dietary Pectin Increases Intestinal Crypt Stem Cell Survival following Radiation Injury

This research was performed as a project of the Intestinal Stem Cell Consortium, a collaborative research project funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH U01 DK-085508 to CWH), and a grant from Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology to CWH.Gastrointestinal (GI) mucosal damage is a devastating adverse effect of radiation therapy. We have recently reported that expression of Dclk1, a Tuft cell and tumor stem cell (TSC) marker, 24h after high dose total-body gamma-IR (TBI) can be used as a surrogate marker for crypt survival. Dietary pectin has been demonstrated to possess chemopreventive properties, whereas its radioprotective property has not been studied. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary pectin on ionizing radiation (IR)-induced intestinal stem cell (ISC) deletion, crypt and overall survival following lethal TBI. C57BL/6 mice received a 6% pectin diet and 0.5% pectin drinking water (pre-IR mice received pectin one week before TBI until death; post-IR mice received pectin after TBI until death). Animals were exposed to TBI (14 Gy) and euthanized at 24 and 84h post-IR to assess ISC deletion and crypt survival respectively. Animals were also subjected to overall survival studies following TBI. In pre-IR treatment group, we observed a three-fold increase in ISC/crypt survival, a two-fold increase in Dclk1+ stem cells, increased overall survival (median 10d vs. 7d), and increased expression of Dclk1, Msi1, Lgr5, Bmi1, and Notch1 (in small intestine) post-TBI in pectin treated mice compared to controls. We also observed increased survival of mice treated with pectin (post-IR) compared to controls. Dietary pectin is a radioprotective agent; prevents IR-induced deletion of potential reserve ISCs; facilitates crypt regeneration; and ultimately promotes overall survival. Given the anti-cancer activity of pectin, our data support a potential role for dietary pectin as an agent that can be administered to patients receiving radiation therapy to protect against radiation-induces mucositis.Yeshttp://www.plosone.org/static/editorial#pee

Ablation of Doublecortin-Like Kinase 1 in the Colonic Epithelium Exacerbates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis

We would like to acknowledge Jim Henthorn of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Flow Cytometry and Imaging Core for his assistance in Bio-Plex data collection and analysis.Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (Dclk1), a microtubule-associated kinase, marks the fifth lineage of intestinal epithelial cells called tuft cells that function as tumor stem cells in Apc mutant models of colon cancer. In order to determine the role of Dclk1 in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced colonic inflammation both intestinal epithelial specific Dclk1 deficient (VillinCre;Dclk1f/f) and control (Dclk1f/f) mice were fed 3% DSS in drinking water for 9 days, allowed to recover for 2 days, and killed. The clinical and histological features of DSS-induced colitis were scored and immunohistochemical, gene expression, pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, and immunoblotting analyses were used to examine epithelial barrier integrity, inflammation, and stem and tuft cell features. In DSS-induced colitis, VillinCre;Dclk1f/f mice demonstrated exacerbated injury including higher clinical colitis scores, increased epithelial barrier permeability, higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, decreased levels of Lgr5, and dysregulated Wnt/b-Catenin pathway genes. These results suggest that Dclk1 plays an important role in regulating colonic inflammatory response and colonic epithelial integrity.Yeshttp://www.plosone.org/static/editorial#pee