Changes That Should Remain in Higher Education Post COVID-19: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of the Experiences at Three Universities

Objectives: The goal of the present study is to describe how the transition to remote emergency delivery was addressed in three universities during the COVID-19 pandemic, to determine the satisfaction levels of their students and faculty with this new teaching-learning experience, and to gather their opinions about the future of higher education. Method: The study uses a mixed-methods approach, including faculty and student surveys and focus groups Results: The study shows high satisfaction with the emergency remote delivery and clearly reflects the relevance of enhancing the digital components of future learning experiences in higher education and a unanimous preference for hybrid education. Participants provide recommendations to institutions regarding what students and faculty would like to keep for a more effective learning experience when the new normal comes. Conclusions: COVID-19 has had terrible consequences; however, the pandemic has brought along some positive effects and improvement opportunities in higher education, and, if the results of the present study are any indication, the future of face-to-face higher education should be hybrid. Implication for Theory and/or Practice: The study results can provide recommendations and inform decision-making by institutional leaders and policy makers regarding the necessary enhancement of the digital component of the teaching and learning process in higher education

Associations between mstn/haeiii polymorphism and reproductive and growth characteristics in morkaraman sheep

The myostatin gene inhibits skeletal muscle growth in advanced animals, and a mutation in the gene coding region increases muscle formation. Hence, it is accepted to be a candidate gene for the selection of some production traits. The objective of the current research was to examine the genotypes of the myostatin gene and reveal the associations between the genotypes and a number of traits, including birth weight, weaning weight, weaning age, average daily weight gain, and productivity, in 110 Morkaraman sheep. Genotypes were determined by the PCR-RFLP method using the HaeIII restriction enzyme, and the genotype frequencies were found to be 9%, 69%, and 22% for MM, Mm, and mm in the myostatin locus, respectively. The M allele frequency was 44%, whereas the m allele frequency was 56%. In the studied population, the myostatin locus was not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The association analysis revealed no statistically significant impact of the MSTN gene polymorphism in exon 3 on birth weight, weaning weight, and productivity (P>0.05) but found a significant effect on weaning age and average daily weight gain (P<0.05). As a result, the MSTN gene showed polymorphisms in Morkaraman sheep and can be regarded as a genetic marker for sheep selection according to the association analysis results

Magnetic resonance imaging based kidney volume assessment for risk stratification in pediatric autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

IntroductionIn the pediatric context, most children with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) maintain a normal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) despite underlying structural kidney damage, highlighting the critical need for early intervention and predictive markers. Due to the inverse relationship between kidney volume and kidney function, risk assessments have been presented on the basis of kidney volume. The aim of this study was to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based kidney volume assessment for risk stratification in pediatric ADPKD and to investigate clinical and genetic differences among risk groups.MethodsThis multicenter, cross-sectional, and case-control study included 75 genetically confirmed pediatric ADPKD patients (5–18 years) and 27 controls. Kidney function was assessed by eGFR calculated from serum creatinine and cystatin C using the CKiD-U25 equation. Blood pressure was assessed by both office and 24-hour ambulatory measurements. Kidney volume was calculated from MRI using the stereological method. Total kidney volume was adjusted for the height (htTKV). Patients were stratified from A to E classes according to the Leuven Imaging Classification (LIC) using MRI-derived htTKV.ResultsMedian (Q1-Q3) age of the patients was 6.0 (2.0–10.0) years, 56% were male. There were no differences in sex, age, height-SDS, or GFR between the patient and control groups. Of the patients, 89% had PKD1 and 11% had PKD2 mutations. Non-missense mutations were 73% in PKD1 and 75% in PKD2. Twenty patients (27%) had hypertension based on ABPM. Median htTKV of the patients was significantly higher than controls (141 vs. 117 ml/m, p = 0.0003). LIC stratification revealed Classes A (38.7%), B (28%), C (24%), and D + E (9.3%). All children in class D + E and 94% in class C had PKD1 variants. Class D + E patients had significantly higher blood pressure values and hypertension compared to other classes (p &gt; 0.05 for all).DiscussionThis study distinguishes itself by using MRI-based measurements of kidney volume to stratify pediatric ADPKD patients into specific risk groups. It is important to note that PKD1 mutation and elevated blood pressure were higher in the high-risk groups stratified by age and kidney volume. Our results need to be confirmed in further studies

Fabrication and characterization of probioticLactobacillus plantarumloaded sodium alginate edible films

WOS:000563766100002In this study, sodium alginate (SA) based probioticLactobacillus plantarumcarrier edible films were fabricated and characterized for survival of probiotics, physicochemical, mechanical, barrier, molecular and thermal properties. Probiotic bacteria adapted well to the polymer matrix, which was indicated by the high survival rate during film drying and the storage for 60 days. Probiotic population remained at higher levels in the case of cold storage. Free or encapsulated bacteria incorporation significantly (P 0.05) difference between elongation at break levels was observed. Water vapor permeability values significantly increased by the addition of encapsulated probiotics, probably due to the hydrophilic character of the wall material (maltodextrin). DSC thermograms showed that water evaporation peaks were at 121-130 degrees C while no glassy transition or melting behavior was observed at the SA based films. In conclusion, the results indicated that SA was confirmed as a potent carrier ofLactobacillus plantarumand SA based probiotic films could be conveniently used as edible coating of foods.Yildiz Technical UniversityYildiz Technical University; Scientific Research Project Unit of Yildiz Technical University of Turkey [FBA-2019-3515]We would like to thank Yildiz Technical University for providing funds for this project with project number FBA-2019-3515 of the Scientific Research Project Unit of Yildiz Technical University of Turkey

Effect of various enzymatic treatments on the mechanical properties of coir fiber/poly(lactic acid) biocomposites

###EgeUn###The effects of enzymatic treatments on the properties of coir fiber-reinforced poly(lactic acid) (PLA) were not found in the literature. Accordingly, the effects of various enzymatic treatments on the mechanical performance of the coir fiber-reinforced PLA composites were investigated in the current study. Four different enzymes, namely lipase, lactase, pectinase, and cellulase, were used. The mechanical properties of the composites were determined by the tensile, flexural, impact tests, and dynamic mechanical analysis. According to the test results, the use of enzyme treated coir fibers affected the mechanical properties except for the flexural properties with different extents depending upon their type. The tensile strength increased with the treatments of lipase and lactase, while the treatments with pectinase and cellulase had no remarkable effect. The impact strength was improved with enzymatic treatments except for pectinase. All enzymatic treatments improved the elastic modulus below the glass transition temperature. In brief, enzymatic treatments improved the interfacial adhesion between coir fiber and PLA via the waxes and fatty acids removal and/or the increment in surface roughness.Erciyes University Scientific Research UnitErciyes University [BAP-FYL-2017-7635]The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work is supported by Erciyes University Scientific Research Unit under grant no. BAP-FYL-2017-7635

Effect of Intracellular Angiotensin II on Diabetic Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation

WOS: 000453220100093

Effect of Angiotensin II Protein Kinase C in Diabetic Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

WOS: 000453220100035

Lithium's Effect on Streptozotocin-induced Experimental Diabetes Rats of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation

WOS: 000383578300070

The Effect of Acute Caffeine Application on Anxiety-Like Behaviors of BALB/c and C57BL/6 Mice

WOS: 000453220100068

Evaluation of the Effect of Glucose and Bovine Serum Albumin on Xenopus Embryos by Fetax Test

WOS: 000453220100158