Guided instruction with Logo programming and the development of cognitive monitoring strategies among college students

As our society changes and becomes more complex, and as new knowledge and technology emerge, the need for teaching students to be independent thinkers and problem solvers increases more rapidly than ever before. Responding to the ever increasing societal demands, educators have sought for proper learning tools and methodologies to improve students\u27 higher-order thinking and problem solving skills. In particular, cognitive monitoring has been a primary concern of educators and cognitive psychologists. Cognitive monitoring has been regarded as one of the most important strategies in efficient thinking and problem solving. Logo programming has been considered a powerful tool to help students develop higher order thinking, an awareness of their thinking processes, and problem solving skills. Unfortunately, little evidence has been collected for the development of cognitive monitoring and problem solving through Logo programming;This research examined the effects of guided instruction with Logo programming on the development of cognitive monitoring strategies among college students. Guided instruction in this study involved three pedagogical elements. First, Logo programming was selected as a particular learning tool to teach cognitive monitoring strategies. Second, an explicit instructional model of cognitive monitoring processes was included in the process of solving Logo problems: decomposing, planning, executing, identifying errors, and debugging. Third, teacher mediated practice of cognitive monitoring activities was facilitated in a Logo programming environment as well as outside of the programming domain;The results of this study demonstrated positive effects of guided instruction with Logo programming on both near transfer and far transfer of cognitive monitoring strategies. The result also indicated that guided instruction contributed most significantly to the development of Logo error identification and debugging skills

Intercultural competence for future leaders of educational technology and its evaluation

Demands of globalization today continue to increase pressure for the education of global citizens who preserve the variety and vitality of life. Our transatlantic project has been developing a shared community of graduate students and faculty experts in educational technology across six universities. Evidence of the development of intercultural competence was analyzed from artifacts, self-report, interviews, and surveys. The findings showed that students gained intercultural competence in professional and personal spheres, with openness and flexibility that include acceptance, adaptability, and multiple perspectives. Applications of educational technology served as a bridge to introduce new cultures, knowledge and people to students.Demands of globalization today continue to increase pressure for the education of global citizens who preserve the variety and vitality of life. Our transatlantic project has been developing a shared community of graduate students and faculty experts in educational technology across six universities. Evidence of the development of intercultural competence was analyzed from artifacts, self-report, interviews, and surveys. The findings showed that students gained intercultural competence in professional and personal spheres, with openness and flexibility that include acceptance, adaptability, and multiple perspectives. Applications of educational technology served as a bridge to introduce new cultures, knowledge and people to students

Intercultural competence for future leaders of educational technology and its evaluation

Demands of globalization today continue to increase pressure for the education of global citizens who preserve the variety and vitality of life. Our transatlantic project has been developing a shared community of graduate students and faculty experts in educational technology across six universities. Evidence of the development of intercultural competence was analyzed from artifacts, self-report, interviews, and surveys. The findings showed that students gained intercultural competence in professional and personal spheres, with openness and flexibility that include acceptance, adaptability, and multiple perspectives. Applications of educational technology served as a bridge to introduce new cultures, knowledge and people to students.Demands of globalization today continue to increase pressure for the education of global citizens who preserve the variety and vitality of life. Our transatlantic project has been developing a shared community of graduate students and faculty experts in educational technology across six universities. Evidence of the development of intercultural competence was analyzed from artifacts, self-report, interviews, and surveys. The findings showed that students gained intercultural competence in professional and personal spheres, with openness and flexibility that include acceptance, adaptability, and multiple perspectives. Applications of educational technology served as a bridge to introduce new cultures, knowledge and people to students

Editorial : Adult neurogenesis as a regenerative strategy for brain repair

Funding Information: This work was supported by Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) BB/W008068/1 to DB, National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) (2019R1A2C1003958 and 2021R1A4A5028966) to K-OC, and NIH (R01CA242158 and R01AG058560) to M-HJ.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Characterization and source of fluorescent dissolved organic matter in the Western Arctic Ocean: new insights from the 2019 summer study

Increase in river discharge and seasonal primary production and decline in sea ice coverage in the Arctic Ocean in summer can significantly affect the distribution and composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM). This study aimed to enhance the current available knowledge about the impacts of environmental changes on the characteristics of DOM in the rapidly changing Arctic Ocean. Seawater samples were collected from the western Arctic Ocean during the summer of 2019 and analyzed for fluorescent DOM (FDOM), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and stable oxygen isotope (δ18O) content in conjunction with biophysical properties. We identified two humic-like (C1 and C2) and one protein-like (C3) components using fluorescence excitation-emission matrix coupled with parallel factor (EEM–PARAFAC) analysis. Remarkably high intensities of humic-like FDOM were found in the upper halocline layer (32 < salinity < 33.5 psu, at depths between 50–200 m) with high inorganic nutrient concentrations and low N* values, indicating that the humic-like FDOM was supplied from the shelf sediment. Furthermore, shoaling of the upper halocline layer brought high levels of humic-like FDOM to the euphotic zone, resulting in an increased probability of photodegradation of humic-like FDOM due to exposure to solar radiation in the surface layer. Tryptophan-like FDOM was positively correlated with river water fraction (friver) and riverine DOC but not with chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and heterotrophic bacterial abundance, indicating river discharge as a potential additional source of tryptophan-like FDOM. The correlation coefficients between tryptophan-like FDOM and river water parameters (friver and riverine DOC) differed across the Chukchi Sea, Chukchi Borderland, and East Siberian Sea, implying that the influence of river discharge on tryptophan-like FDOM is region-dependent. An increase in river discharge in future might lead to a greater supply of tryptophan-like FDOM, impacting the dynamics of DOM cycling in the western Arctic Ocean

Interleukin-2 induces the in vitro maturation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived intestinal organoids.

Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived intestinal organoids (hIOs) form 3D structures organized into crypt and villus domains, making them an excellent in vitro model system for studying human intestinal development and disease. However, hPSC-derived hIOs still require in vivo maturation to fully recapitulate adult intestine, with the mechanism of maturation remaining elusive. Here, we show that the co-culture with human T lymphocytes induce the in vitro maturation of hIOs, and identify STAT3-activating interleukin-2 (IL-2) as the major factor inducing maturation. hIOs exposed to IL-2 closely mimic the adult intestinal epithelium and have comparable expression levels of mature intestinal markers, as well as increased intestine-specific functional activities. Even after in vivo engraftment, in vitro-matured hIOs retain their maturation status. The results of our study demonstrate that STAT3 signaling can induce the maturation of hIOs in vitro, thereby circumventing the need for animal models and in vivo maturation

Clinical Impact of Prophylactic Antibiotic Treatment for Self-Expandable Metallic Stent Insertion in Patients with Malignant Colorectal Obstruction

Purpose. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics (PA) for reducing the infectious complications and the potential risk factors responsible for the infectious complications after stent insertion for malignant colorectal obstruction. Methods. We performed a retrospective review of 224 patients who underwent self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) insertion for malignant colorectal obstruction from May 2004 to December 2012. Results. There were 145 patients in the PA group and 79 in non-PA group. The CRP level in PA group was significantly higher than that in non-PA. Abdominal tenderness and mechanical ileus were significantly more frequent in PA group than those in non-PA. The frequency of post-SEMS insertion fever, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and bacteremia was not significantly different between PA and non-PA groups. In multivariate analysis, the CRP level was risk factor related to post-SEMS insertion SIRS. However, in propensity score matching analysis, there was no independent risk factor related to post-SEMS insertion fever, SIRS, and bacteremia. Conclusion. The use of PA in patients with malignant colorectal obstruction may be not effective to prevent the development of infectious complications after SEMS insertion

Citrus aurantium flavonoids inhibit adipogenesis through the Akt signaling pathway in 3T3-L1 cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obesity is a health hazard that is associated with a number of diseases and metabolic abnormalities, such as type-2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and coronary heart disease. In the current study, we investigated the effects of <it>Citrus aurantium </it>flavonoids (CAF) on the inhibition of adipogenesis and adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>During adipocyte differentiation, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with 0, 10, and 50 μg/ml CAF, and then the mRNA and protein expression of adipogenesis-related genes was assayed. We examined the effect of CAF on level of phosphorylated Akt in 3T3-L1 cells treated with CAF at various concentrations during adipocyte differentiation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The insulin-induced expression of C/EBPβ and PPARγ mRNA and protein were significantly down-regulated in a dose-dependent manner following CAF treatment. CAF also dramatically decreased the expression of C/EBPα, which is essential for the acquisition of insulin sensitivity by adipocytes. Moreover, the expression of the aP2 and FAS genes, which are involved in lipid metabolism, decreased dramatically upon treatment with CAF. Interestingly, CAF diminished the insulin-stimulated serine phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473) and GSK3β (Ser9), which may reduce glucose uptake in response to insulin and lipid accumulation. Furthermore, CAF not only inhibited triglyceride accumulation during adipogenesis but also contributed to the lipolysis of adipocytes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In the present study, we demonstrate that CAF suppressed adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our results indicated that CAF down-regulates the expression of C/EBPβ and subsequently inhibits the activation of PPARγ and C/EBPα. The anti-adipogenic activity of CAF was mediated by the inhibition of Akt activation and GSK3β phosphorylation, which induced the down-regulation of lipid accumulation and lipid metabolizing genes, ultimately inhibiting adipocyte differentiation.</p