SMART CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS AS A PARAMETER OF ADAPTIVE LEARNING

This paper presents results of the research aimed at establishing the possibility of using a physical environmental parameter (λ) as one of the parameters of adaptive learning in smart classrooms. In this research, the parameter quantifying physical environmental parameters of a smart classroom into a single value was introduced and the relevance of the usage of the introduced parameter as a criterion of adaptive learning in a smart classroom was evaluated. The presentation of multiple environmental parameters through one unique parameter facilitated the realization of adaptation process, especially in the case of applying several adaptation criteria. An overall of 64 third-year students of the ICT College in Belgrade participated in the research. The implemented research drew certain conclusions. The relevance of using the parameter (λ) as the criterion of adaptive learning in smart classrooms was confirmed

A MODEL OF ADAPTIVE LEARNING IN SMART CLASSROOMS BASED ON THE LEARNING STRATEGIES

The paper presents a proposal of a model of adaptive learning. The model takes the advantage of a smart classroom environment for the realization of adaptive learning. As adaptation criteria, it uses parameters of motivation, student’s prior knowledge, cognitive load and a dynamic environmental parameter. The dynamic environmental parameter is a parameter which is obtained by evaluating physical parameters of working environment in a smart classroom. The learning process is carried out through different learning strategies grouped in learning categories. The model  dedicates a learning category  to a student based on a formula which takes in consideration above mentioned adaptation criteria  The proposed model has been tested. The assessment test scores at the end of a learning process showed that student’s in the experimental group achieved better learning outcomes than the student’s who learned in a traditional manner. The obtained results are encouraging and lay a sound foundation for the application and further development of the model

Possible role of TGF-B pathways in schizophrenia

© 2016, University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science. All Rights Reserved. The phenomenological uniqueness of each patient with schizophrenia is determined by complex symptomatology, particularly the overlapping of symptoms and their prominence in certain phases of this mental disorder. Establishing biological markers is an important step in the further objectivisation and quantification of schizophrenia. Identifying the cytokine profiles that precede a psychotic episode could direct the strategies for relapse prevention and be useful in predicting disease progression and treatment response. In the context of inflammation, TGF-β exerts potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive functions by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis, but it can also have pro-inflammatory functions through its stimulatory effects on inflammatory 17 cells. It has been shown that the T helper cell type-1 and type-17 responses are reduced and type-2 response is increased in patients with schizophrenia. Both data from the literature and our results also indicate the presence of an anti-inflammatory response through production of the TGF-β regulatory cytokine. A meta-analysis of plasma cytokine alterations suggested that TGF-β is the state marker for acute exacerbation of schizophrenia, and we showed that TGF-β can also be a valuable marker for psychosis. Hyperactivity of TGF-β signalling pathways in schizophrenia may be both a neuroprotective mechanism and a possible therapeutic target

IL-33/ST2 axis in innate and acquired immunity to tumors

Interleukin-33, a ligand for ST2/T1, has an important role in allergy, autoimmunity and inflammation. The role of IL-33/ST2 axis in cancer is not elucidated. Using metastatic breast cancer model we provide evidence that lack of ST2 signaling led to reduced tumor growth and metastasis and enhanced anti-tumor immunity

Relapse in resected lung cancer revisited: does intensified follow up really matter? A prospective study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>beside the well known predominance of distant vs. loco-regional relapse, several aspects of the relapse pattern still have not been fully elucidated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>prospective, controlled study on 88 patients operated for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a 15 months period. Stage IIIA existed in 35(39.8%) patients, whilst stages IB, IIA and IIB existed in 10.2%, 4.5% and 45.5% patients respectively. Inclusion criteria: stage I-IIIA, complete resection, systematic lymphadenectomy with at least 6 lymph node groups examined, no neoadjuvant therapy, exact data of all aspects of relapse, exact data about the outcome of the treatment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>postoperative lung cancer relapse occurred in 50(56.8%) patients. Locoregional, distant and both types of relapse occurred in 26%, 70% and 4% patients respectively. Postoperative cancer relapse occurred in 27/35(77.1%) pts. in the stage IIIA and in 21/40(52.55) pts in the stage IIB. In none of four pts. in the stage IIA cancer relapse occurred, unlike 22.22% pts. with relapse in the stage IB. The mean disease free interval in the analysed group was 34.38 ± 3.26 months.</p> <p>The mean local relapse free and distant relapse free intervals were 55 ± 3.32 and 41.62 ± 3.47 months respectively Among 30 pts. with the relapse onset inside the first 12 month after the lung resection, in 20(66.6%) pts. either T3 tumours or N2 lesions existed. In patients with N0, N1 and N2 lesions, cancer relapse occurred in 30%, 55.6% and 70.8% patients respectively</p> <p>Radiographic aspect T stage, N stage and extent of resection were found as significant in terms of survival. Related to the relapse occurrence, although radiographic aspect and extent of resection followed the same trend as in the survival analysis, only T stage and N stage were found as significant in the same sense as for survival. On multivariate, only T and N stage were found as significant in terms of survival.</p> <p>Specific oncological treatment of relapse was possible in 27/50(54%) patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>the intensified follow up did not increase either the proportion of patients detected with asymptomatic relapse or the number of patients with specific oncological treatment of relapse.</p

Sex and age differences and outcomes in acute coronary syndromes

Background: There is conflicting information about sex differences in presentation, treatment, and outcome after acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in the era of reperfusion therapy and percutaneous coronary intervention. The aim of this study was to examine presentation, acute therapy, and outcomes of men and women with ACS with special emphasis on their relationship with younger age ( lt = 65 years). Methods: From January 2010 to June 2015, we enrolled 5140 patients from 3 primary PCI capable hospitals. Patients were registered according to the International Survey of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Transitional Countries (ISACS-TC) registry protocol (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01218776). The primary outcome was the incidence of in-hospital mortality. Results: The study population was constituted by 2876 patients younger than 65 years and 2294 patients older. Women were older than men in both the young (56.2 +/- 6.6 vs. 54.1 +/- 7.4) and old (74.9 +/- 6.4 vs. 73.6 +/- 6.0) age groups. There were 3421 (66.2%) patients with ST elevation ACS (STE-ACS) and 1719 (33.8%) patients without ST elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS). In STE-ACS, the percentage of patients who failed to receive reperfusion was higher in women than in men either in the young (21.7% vs. 15.8%) than in the elderly (35.2% vs. 29.6%). There was a significant higher mortality in women in the younger age group (age-adjusted OR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.01-2.29), but there was no sex difference in the older group (age-adjusted OR 1.10, 95% CI: 0.87-1.41). Significantly sex differences in mortality were not seen in NSTE-ACS patients. Conclusions: In-hospital mortality from ACS is not different between older men and women. A higher short-term mortality can be seen only in women with STEMI and age of 65 or less

The role of IL-17 in modulation of antitumour immunity and progression of colitis-associated cancer

Colorectal carcinoma is one of the most frequent malignancies worldwide. There is a strong belief that it is initiated in the inflammatory bowel disease microenvironment. Pro-inflammatory cytokines produced by malignant cells as well as by tumor infiltrating leukocytes facilitate origination, growth and progression of cancer. An important role of T cells in antitumor immunity is well established. CD4+ Th lymphocytes can be classified into a few functional phenotypes: T helper 1 (Th1), T helper 2 (Th2), T helper 17 (Th17), according to the ability to secrete different cytokines. Th1 lymphocytes play important role in induction of cellular immunity, while Th2 lymphocytes suppress cellular immunity and enhance humoral immune response. Th17 lymphocytes are the key players in inducing inflammation by recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages. The polarization of T-mediated immune response has multiple effects on tumor progression. Although Th2-type cytokines can induce acute tumor rejection, Th1- type cytokines provide a greater antitumor effect and can promote durable anti-tumor CD8+T cell response. However, the role of IL-17 in pathogenesis of colitis-associated cancer (CAC) has not been fully understood. The aim of this paper is to clarify the role of IL-17 in modulation of antitumor immunity and progression of colorectal carcinoma

Development of retail market in Serbia

The aim of this paper is to analyze retail development in Serbia under the conditions of globalization and internationalization in business. The starting point is in current trends in trade in both EU and transitional countries. Macro environmental factors affecting trade development have been investigated as well as indicators related to the number of trade companies, real turnover, employment rate, etc. On the basis of the indicators outlined, the present state of trade in Serbia has been observed and prospect trends have been pointed out. Some assumptions about future successful development along with the increasing competitiveness of Serbian trade have also been made

The role of regulatory T cells in the modulation of anti-tumor immune response

Regulatory T cells (Treg) represent a subset of CD4+T{cyrillic} cells whose function is to suppress immune responses. Treg lymphocytes can be divided into two subsets: natural nTreg lymphocytes that are developed in the thymus and inducible iTreg lymphocytes, which originate from conventional T lymphocytes on the periphery. The majority of Treg lymphocytes express high levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor α chain (CD25) and transcription factor FoxP3 (critical for the development and suppressor activity of iTreg lymphocytes). Cancer cells can modulate anti-tumor immune response indirectly, through the activation of Treg lymphocytes. It has been shown that the loss of regulatory function by depletion of tumor-induced Treg lymphocytes may enhance effectors response, resulting in tumor rejection, while the increased number of Treg lymphocytes effectively prevents tumor destruction. nTreg lymphocytes express increasingly CTLA-4 and membranebound TGF-β, which inhibits cytokine production and responses of effectors lymphocytes. iTreg lymphocytes secrete immunosuppressive cytokines such as IL-10 and TGF-β. Treg lymphocytes represent one of important obstruction in anti-tumor immunity