Information and communication technologies in the professional development of vocational school teachers

U radu se raspravlja o stručnom usavršavanju nastavnika srednjih stručnih škola putem informaciono-komunikacionih tehnologija. Predstavljeno je kvalitativno istraživanje u kojem je učestvovalo dvadeset nastavnika srednjih stručnih škola sa teritorije Republike Srbije. Osnovni cilj istraživanja bio je da ispitamo stručno usavršavanje nastavnika srednjih stručnih škola putem informaciono-komunikacionih tehnologija i damo odgovor na pitanja: Kakva je obrazovna pripremljenost nastavnika srednjih stručnih škola za korišćenje informaciono-komunikacionih tehnologija u sopstvenom stručnom usavršavanju? Kakav je odnos nastavnika srednjih stručnih škola prema korišćenju informaciono-komunikacionih tehnologija u sopstvenom stručnom usavršavanju? Posredstvom kojih formi nastavnici koriste informaciono-komunikacione tehnologije u sopstvenom stručnom usavršavanju? Nalazi ukazuju na postojanje više tipova narativa nastavnika o postavljenim pitanjima, i oni variraju s obzirom na dužinu radnog iskustva. Svi nastavnici imaju pozitivan odnos prema korišćenju informaciono-komunikacionih tehnologija u sopstvenom stručnom usavršavanju, osposobljeni su za njihovu primenu, ali se obim i intenzitet, kao i preferirane forme korišćenja informaciono-komunikacionih tehnologija u sopstvenom stručnom usavršavanju među njima razlikuju.The paper elaborates on the professional development of the vocational school teachers by using the information and communication technologies. It describes a qualitative research which included 20 teachers of vocational schools in the territory of the Republic of Serbia. The main aim of the research was to explore the vocational teachers' professional development which involves using the information and communication technologies and to provide answers to the following questions: To what extent are the vocational school teachers prepared in terms of their education for using the information and communication technologies in their professional development? What are the opinions of these teachers regarding the use of the information and communication technologies in their professional development? What are the forms of using these technologies in the vocational school teachers' professional development? The research findings indicate that there are several types of teachers' narratives regarding the above-mentioned questions and that these types vary relative to teachers' years of work experience. All teachers expressed positive attitudes towards using the information and communication technologies in their professional development. They have been trained to use these technologies, but the scope and intensity, as well as the preferred forms, of using these technologies for the purpose of professional development vary among the teachers

Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation Improves Motor and Behavioral Dysfunction through Modulation of NMDA Receptor Subunit Composition in Experimental Model of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of the dopaminergic system, leading to a variety of motor and nonmotor symptoms. The currently available symptomatic therapy loses efficacy over time, indicating the need for new therapeutic approaches. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as one of the potential candidates for PD therapy. Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), an excitatory protocol of rTMS, has been shown to be beneficial in several animal models of neurodegeneration, including PD. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of prolonged iTBS on motor performance and behavior and the possible association with changes in the NMDAR subunit composition in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced experimental model of PD. Two-month-old male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: controls, 6-OHDA rats, 6-OHDA + iTBS protocol (two times/day/three weeks) and the sham group. The therapeutic effect of iTBS was evaluated by examining motor coordination, balance, spontaneous forelimb use, exploratory behavior, anxiety-like, depressive/anhedonic-like behavior and short-term memory, histopathological changes and changes at the molecular level. We demonstrated the positive effects of iTBS at both motor and behavioral levels. In addition, the beneficial effects were reflected in reduced degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and a subsequent increase in the level of DA in the caudoputamen. Finally, iTBS altered protein expression and NMDAR subunit composition, suggesting a sustained effect. Applied early in the disease course, the iTBS protocol may be a promising candidate for early-stage PD therapy, affecting motor and nonmotor deficits. © 2023 by the authors

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Irreversible UV-induced quercetin and rutin degradation in solution, studied by UV-spectrophotometry and HPLC chromatography

Irreversible degradation of quercetin and rutin, dissolved in methanol and water, induced by continuous UV-irradiation from two different sub-ranges (UV-B and UV-C) has been studied in this work. The degradation of both flavonoids is related to formation of UV-induced degradation products: both processes follow first-order kinetics. The degradation and products formation rate constants are both dependent on the involved UV-photons energy input in both solvents

UV-induced change in quercetin antioxidant activity toward benzophenone initiated lipid peroxidation

The aim of this work is to estimate the degradation and change in antioxidant activity of quercetin in the presence of two different mixtures of phospholipids in methanol solution, under continuous UV-irradiation from three different sub-ranges (UV-A, UV-B and UV-C), in the presence and in the absence of selected UV-absorbing photosensitizer, benzophenone. Quercetin is employed to control lipid peroxidation process generated by UV-irradiation, by absorbing part of the UV-incident light, or/and by scavenging the involved, created free radicals. The results show that quercetin undergoes to irreversible destruction, highly dependent on UV-photons energy input, more expressed in the presence than in the absence of benzophenone. In the same time quercetin expresses suppression effect on lipid peroxidation processes in UV-irradiated phospholipid mixtures in both cases - absence or presence of benzophenone (more or less effective, respectively). In UV-C-irradiated mixtures, benzophenone photosensitizing function is significantly reduced due to its strong absorption in the same UV-C spectral range, therefore affecting less antioxidant activity of the remained quercetin

Aqueous Extract of Wild Cyclamen Tubers (Cyclamen Purpurascens L.) - A Potential Source of Natural Antioxidants and Antimicrobial Agents

Wild cyclamen tubers (Cyclamen purpurascens Mill.) (mountain Kukavica, Southeast Serbia) were used as material for extraction in this study. Aqueous extract was obtained by reflux extraction on boiling temperature with hydromodulus 1:20 m/v during 180 minutes. The total phenolic content was determined spectrophotometrically by the method of Folin-Ciocalteu, and the total flavonoids content by method with AlCl3. The antioxidant activity of extract was investigated spectrophotometrically by DPPH and ABTS test. Disc-diffusion method was used for antimicrobial activity investigation on the following pathogenic microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The content of total phenols was 8.27 mg GAE/g dry extract while the total flavonoid content was 11.51 mg RE/g dry extract. The extract concentrations required to neutralize 50% of the initial concentration of DPPH radicals (EC50) after 20 minutes incubation and immediately after adding DPPH radical solution were 0.413 and 2.0 mg/ml, respectively, while concentrations of extract required to neutralize 50% of the initial ABTS radicals concentration is 0.743 mg/ml. The extract showed the highest antimicrobial activity on bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. The presented results indicate that cyclamen tubers extract is a potential source of natural antioxidants and antimicrobial agents

An investigation into the influence of hydrogel composition on swelling behavior and drug release from poly(acrylamide-co-itaconic acid) hydrogels in various media

The hydrogels prepared by free radical copolymerization of acrylamide and itaconic acid were investigated with regard to their composition and crosslinking degree to find materials with satisfactory swelling and drug release properties. Samples were characterized by measuring the swelling behavior and in vitro release of paracetamol as a model drug in aqueous media with different pH values. The two-factor, three-level experimental design and response surface methodology were applied to statistically evaluate the influence of investigated factors

Gender-Specific Oxidative Stress Parameters

The aim of the present study was to examine the association of proteins that regulate iron transport/storage content and acute phase response with oxidative stress in male and female athletes. Serum ferritin, transferrin, soluble transferrin receptor, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and oxidative stress parameters (reactive oxygen metabolites, superoxide anion, advanced oxidation protein products, lipid hydroperoxides, superoxide-dismutase and pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance) were determined in 138 athletes (73 females and 65 males). A general linear model indicated significant gender differences between athletes in terms of reactive oxygen metabolites (307.48 +/- 61.02 vs. 276.98 +/- 50.08; P = 0.030), superoxide-dismutase (114.60 +/- 41.64 vs. 101.42 +/- 38.76; P = 0.001), lipid hydroperoxides (149.84 +/- 38.95 vs. 101.43 +/- 39.26; P lt 0.001), pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (512.40 +/- 148.67 vs. 413.09 +/- 120.30; P = 0.002), advanced oxidation protein products (1.49 +/- 0.30 vs. 0.91 +/- 0.25; P lt 0.001) and superoxide (2.61 +/- 0.36 vs. 2.22 +/- 0.35; P = 0.001), which were all significantly higher in females. Multivariate analysis of covariance indicated gender (P lt 0.001), training experience (P = 0.004), Creactive protein (P = 0.002), soluble transferrin receptor (P = 0.004) and transferrin (P lt 0.001) as significant covariates. Gender accounted for the largest proportion of variability for all oxidative stress parameters (46.3%) and female athletes were more susceptible to oxidative stress. Iron transport and storage proteins (transferrin and ferritin), but also acute phase reactants, were negatively related factors for oxidative stress. In conclusion, variation in the ferritin level may contribute to the different oxidative stress level between the sexes