Teaching Basic Mathematics by Using TuxMath in Primary Education

AbstractThe purpose of the current study is to examine the usefulness of TuxMath as a teaching aid for teachers in teaching and learning process of basic mathematics in primary education. A Program Development Course was given to teachers about the TuxMath. The teachers applied the TuxMath in their classroom during their teaching and learning process of basic mathematics operation in primary education. Then the teachers were interviewed and test papers were prepared for students who learned basic mathematics operation using TuxMath and without TuxMath. The teacher's response and students marks were analysed. The result showed that TuxMath had a significant positive impact among the teachers and students, and the latter preferred TuxMath rather than using the traditional method of teaching basic mathematics operation in Level One. The findings of the current study encouraged teachers to use TuxMath in their teaching and learning process

Incidence of bacterobilia in patients with biliary obstruction in a tertiary center.

INTRODUCTION : Bile in individuals with normal biliary tract is sterile. Presence of biliary obstruction leads to bacterial colonisation of bile. Ascending infection from duodenum and or bacterial translocation from portal vein are the likely sources of infection .Increase in the common bile duct pressure due to obstruction in the presence of infected bile promotes bacterial reflux into lymphatics and hepatic sinusoids resulting in cholangitis. OBJECTIVES : Bacterobilia is commonly observed in patients with obstructed biliary system and is usually asymptomatic .Routine bile culture obtained during ERCP can help in predicting dreaded complications like cholangitis .We studied 30 consecutive bile samples and analysed the incidence of bacterobilia comparing benign and malignant etiology. METHODS : 30 Consecutive patients with biliary obstruction who have undergone ERCP at our hospital were studied.Study population included 13 males and 17 females .23 cases were of benign etiology .7 were malignant .After successful biliary cannulation ,bile was obtained and sent for microbiological analysis. RESULTS : Bile cultures were positive in 16 patients .10 of them had benign etiology .6 of them were malignant .Organisms grown are mainly gram negative with Klebsiella in most of them .Response to cephalosporins were good and resistance to ciprofloxacin was observed . CONCLUSIONS : This study confirms the importance of obtaining routine bile sample during ERCP in obstructed biliary system to predict and prevent dreaded complications like cholangitis

Withania somnifera ameliorates nandrolone-decanoate-induced brain damage in rats by inhibiting cell death, prodynorphin mRNA expression and acetylcholinesterase activity

The misuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids by athletes and non-athletes causes harmful effects on the central nervous system. In Ayurvedic medicine, Withania somnifera (WS) as an herbal drug has been reported for several functions including adaptogenic, anticonvulsant, cytoprotective and antioxidant. The present study investigated the neuroprotective functions of WS (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) in nandrolone decanoate (ND)-induced (16 mg/kg body weight) brain injury in male Wistar rats. ND was injected intramuscularly twice weekly for 4 weeks. The water emulsion of WS root powder was administered orally once daily for 30 days to ND-treated rats. At the end of the experiment, anxiety-like behaviour was assessed in rats using the elevated plus maze. Haematoxylin-and-eosin-stained coronal sections of the parietal cortex and hippocampus of ND rats showed severe alterations in brain histology compared with control rats. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the striatum and prodynorphin gene expression in the hippocampus was significantly elevated in the ND group compared with the control group. Treating ND induced rats with various doses of WS significantly reversed the brain damage, anxiety behaviour, increased striatal AChE activity and reduced prodynorphin gene expression in the hippocampus. In conclusion, WS extract can be used as a neuroprotective agent to reduce the effects of anabolic steroids

Withania somnifera ameliorates nandrolone-decanoate-induced brain damage in rats by inhibiting cell death, prodynorphin mRNA expression and acetylcholinesterase activity

685-693The misuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids by athletes and non-athletes causes harmful effects on the central nervous system. In Ayurvedic medicine, Withania somnifera (WS) as an herbal drug has been reported for several functions including adaptogenic, anticonvulsant, cytoprotective and antioxidant. The present study investigated the neuroprotective functions of WS (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) in nandrolone decanoate (ND)-induced (16 mg/kg body weight) brain injury in male Wistar rats. ND was injected intramuscularly twice weekly for 4 weeks. The water emulsion of WS root powder was administered orally once daily for 30 days to ND-treated rats. At the end of the experiment, anxiety-like behaviour was assessed in rats using the elevated plus maze. Haematoxylin-and-eosin-stained coronal sections of the parietal cortex and hippocampus of ND rats showed severe alterations in brain histology compared with control rats. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the striatum and prodynorphin gene expression in the hippocampus was significantly elevated in the ND group compared with the control group. Treating ND induced rats with various doses of WS significantly reversed the brain damage, anxiety behaviour, increased striatal AChE activity and reduced prodynorphin gene expression in the hippocampus. In conclusion, WS extract can be used as a neuroprotective agent to reduce the effects of anabolic steroids

Development of a flexible and modular approach for integrated continuous biomanufacturing

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Identification of YWHAH as a Novel Brain-Derived Extracellular Vesicle Marker Post Long-Term Midazolam Exposure during Early Development

Recently, the long-term use of sedative agents in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) has raised concerns about neurodevelopmental outcomes in exposed neonates. Midazolam (MDZ), a common neonatal sedative in the NICU, has been suggested to increase learning disturbances and cognitive impairment in children. However, molecular mechanisms contributing to such outcomes with long-term MDZ use during the early stages of life remain unclear. In this study, we for the first time elucidate the role of brain-derived extracellular vesicles (BDEVs), including mining the BDEV proteome post long-term MDZ exposure during early development. Employing our previously established rodent model system that mimics the exposure of MDZ in the NICU using an increasing dosage regimen, we isolated BDEVs from postnatal 21-days-old control and MDZ groups using a differential sucrose density gradient. BDEVs from the control and MDZ groups were then characterized using a ZetaView nanoparticle tracking analyzer and transmission electron microscopy analysis. Next, using RT-qPCR, we examined the expression of key ESCRT-related genes involved in EV biogenesis. Lastly, using quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics, we mined the BDEV protein cargo that revealed key differentially expressed proteins and associated molecular pathways to be altered post long-term MDZ exposure. Our study characterized the proteome in BDEV cargo from long-term MDZ exposure at early development. Importantly, we identified and validated the expression of YWHAH as a potential target for further characterization of its downstream mechanism and a potential biomarker for the early onset of neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative diseases. Overall, the present study demonstrated long-term exposure to MDZ at early development stages could influence BDEV protein cargo, which potentially impact neural functions and behavior at later stages of development

Exosomes derived from differentiated human ADMSC with the Schwann cell phenotype modulate peripheral nerve-related cellular functions

Peripheral nerve regeneration remains a significant clinical challenge due to the unsatisfactory functional recovery and public health burden. Exosomes, especially those derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), are promising as potential cell-free therapeutics and gene therapy vehicles for promoting neural regeneration. In this study, we reported the differentiation of human adipose derived MSCs (hADMSCs) towards the Schwann cell (SC) phenotype (hADMSC-SCs) and then isolated exosomes from hADMSCs with and without differentiation (i.e., dExo vs uExo). We assessed and compared the effects of uExo and dExo on antioxidative, angiogenic, antiinflammatory, and axon growth promoting properties by using various peripheral nerve-related cells. Our results demonstrated that hADMSC-SCs secreted more neurotrophic factors and other growth factors, compared to hADMSCs without differentiation. The dExo isolated from hADMSC-SCs protected rat SCs from oxidative stress and enhanced HUVEC migration and angiogenesis. Compared to uExo, dExo also had improved performances in downregulating pro-inflammatory gene expressions and cytokine secretions and promoting axonal growth of sensory neurons differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Furthermore, microRNA (miRNA) sequencing analysis revealed that exosomes and their parent cells shared some similarities in their miRNA profiles and exosomes displayed a distinct miRNA signature. Many more miRNAs were identified in dExo than in uExo. Several upregulated miRNAs, like miRNA-132-3p and miRNA-199b-5p, were highly related to neuroprotection, anti-inflammation, and angiogenesis. The dExo can effectively modulate various peripheral nerverelated cellular functions and is promising for cell-free biological therapeutics to enhance neural regeneration

Supramolecular photochemistry of encapsulated caged ortho-nitrobenzyl triggers

ortho-Nitrobenzyl (oNB) triggers have been extensively used to release various molecules of interest. However, the toxicity and reactivity of the spent chromophore, o-nitrosobenzaldehyde, remains an unaddressed difficulty. In this study we have applied the well-established supramolecular photochemical concepts to retain the spent trigger o-nitrosobenzaldehyde within the organic capsule after release of water-soluble acids and alcohols. The sequestering power of organic capsules for spent chromophores during photorelease from ortho-nitrobenzyl esters, ethers and alcohols is demonstrated with several examples.National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation (NSF) [CHE-1807729]Kansas University Endowment AssociationFCT - Foundation for Science and TechnologyPortuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [UID/Multi/04326/2019, EMBRC.PT ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022121