Cambodian STEM pre-service teachers’ competency in effective information communication technology integration teaching based on technological pedagogical content knowledge framework

This study explores how Cambodian STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) pre-service teachers comprehended the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) and its components, content knowledge (CK), pedagogical knowledge (PK), technological knowledge (TK), pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), technological pedagogical knowledge (TPK), technological content knowledge (TCK) and their associations with demographic variables. Using a self-report questionnaire, the study surveyed 440 pre-service teachers from three distinct teacher training colleges. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and Pearson's correlation. Results showed that pre-service teachers rated themselves above the mean in all components: TPK and CK were the highest, and TCK and TPACK were the lowest. There was a significant difference in the gender and foreign language variables; males and being able to understand foreign languages were the favor. A negative relationship existed in age variables where younger pre-service teachers demonstrated higher competence in all aspects of TPACK except PCK. It concluded that Cambodian STEM pre-service teachers demonstrate adequate knowledge of content, pedagogy, and technology to integrate information communication and technology (ICT) into their teaching. Possessing a medium to a high level of TPACK, additional professional development programs are needed to assist pre-service teachers in reaching the highest TPACK level

Theoretical Studies on Redox Potential of Molecules by Molecular Dynamics simulation

13301甲第4230号博士（理学）金沢大学博士論文本文Ful

Theoretical Studies on Redox Potential of Molecules by Molecular Dynamics simulation

13301甲第4230号博士（理学）金沢大学博士論文要旨Abstrac

Computation of Redox Potential of Molecule by Energy Representation Method

We have been applied the conventional approach based on the molecular dynamics simulation to estimate the redox potential so far. In this study, we have focused the computational conditions in order to estimate standard redox potential by using the energy representation method: we calculate excess chemical potential increasing the number of solvent molecules and sampling data for the preparation of energy distribution functions. From these results, we have found that the computational value of the standard redox potential is close to the experimental value in the case of the system with larger number of solvent molecules unaffected by the behavior of counter-ion when we take a sufficient sampling data for the energy distribution functions.Selected Papers from the International Symposium on Computational Science - International Symposium on Computational Science Kanazawa University, Japa

Structure and hydration free energy of ketone compound in neutral and cationic state by molecular dynamics simulation

Structure and hydration property of acetone and 3-pentaone in the neutral and cationic state were investigated by using molecular dynamics (MD) and free energy calculations. The force field parameters of stretching vibration, angle bending, and partial charges of each molecule in the neutral and cationic state were developed by using density functional theory (DFT) calculations with B3LYP method and 6-31+G** basis set. The optimized structures by using these force field parameters in gas phase were compared with the experimental data and AMBER force fields parameters (parm99). From the results, the optimized structure in the neutral state of acetone was in good agreement with the experimental data. The evaluated hydration free energy in the neutral state of acetone was closed to the experimental data, while that of 3-pentaone was little bit larger than the experimental data. The ionization effect of ketone molecule on the hydration free energies was found to be significant in both molecules

Decreased serum pyridoxal levels in schizophrenia : meta-analysis and Mendelian randomization analysis

Background: Alterations in one-carbon metabolism have been associated with schizophrenia, and vitamin B6 is one of the key components in this pathway. Methods: We first conducted a case–control study of serum pyridoxal levels and schizophrenia in a large Japanese cohort (n = 1276). Subsequently, we conducted a meta-analysis of association studies (n = 2125). Second, we investigated whether rs4654748, which was identified in a genome-wide association study as a vitamin B6-related single nucleotide polymorphism, was genetically implicated in patients with schizophrenia in the Japanese population (n = 10 689). Finally, we assessed the effect of serum pyridoxal levels on schizophrenia risk using a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Results: Serum pyridoxal levels were significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia than in controls, not only in our cohort, but also in the pooled data set of the meta-analysis of association studies (standardized mean difference –0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] –0.57 to –0.39, p = 9.8 × 10–24). We failed to find a significant association between rs4654748 and schizophrenia. Furthermore, an MR analysis failed to find a causal relationship between pyridoxal levels and schizophrenia risk (odds ratio 0.99, 95% CI 0.65–1.51, p = 0.96). Limitations: Food consumption and medications may have affected serum pyridoxal levels in our cross-sectional study. Sample size, number of instrumental variables and substantial heterogeneity among patients with schizophrenia are limitations of an MR analysis. Conclusion: We found decreased serum pyridoxal levels in patients with schizophrenia in this observational study. However, we failed to obtain data supporting a causal relationship between pyridoxal levels and schizophrenia risk using the MR approach

Exercise before breakfast increases 24-h fat oxidation in female subjects

BackgroundExercise performed in a postprandial state does not increase 24-h fat oxidation of male and female subjects. Conversely, it has been shown in male subjects that exercise performed in a postabsorptive state increases 24-h fat oxidation compared with that in sedentary control and that with exercise trials performed after breakfast, lunch, or dinner. There is a paucity of study evaluating the effect of exercise performed in a postabsorptive state in female subjects.MethodNine young female subjects participated in indirect calorimetry measurement over 24-h using a room-size metabolic chamber in which subjects remained sedentary or performed 60 min exercise before breakfast at 50% of . Exercise was accompanied by an increase in energy intake to ensure that subjects were in a similar state of energy balance over 24 h for the two trials.FindingsCompared with the sedentary condition, exercise performed before breakfast increased 24-h fat oxidation (519 ± 37 vs. 400 ± 41 kcal/day). Time courses of relative energy balance differed between trials with transient negative energy balance observed before breakfast. The lowest values of relative energy balance observed during the 24-h calorimetry, i.e., transient energy deficit, were greater in exercise trials than in sedentary trials. The transient deficit in carbohydrate balance was also observed before breakfast, and magnitude of the deficit was greater in exercise trial compared to that of sedentary trial.InterpretationUnder energy-balanced conditions, exercise performed in a post-absorptive state increases 24-h fat oxidation in female subjects. The effect of exercise performed before breakfast can be attributed to nutritional state: a transient deficit in energy and carbohydrate at the end of exercise