Blackboard and the teaching process from the virtual tutor's perception

Los espacios virtuales de enseñanza, representados por modelos educativos innovadores trabajan bajo un diseño e-learning, en este sentido, se desarrolla el presente trabajo, cuyo propósito es analizar la percepción del tutor virtual al interactuar con la plataforma Blackboard, mediante un instrumento que ayude a identificar las posibles áreas de oportunidad. Se utiliza el tipo de metodología cuantitativa, recolectándose datos a través de Microsoft Forms, iniciando tratamiento a la información por medio del Software estadístico SPSS 24. Con los resultados obtenidos se identifican las áreas para mejora, aportando el presente datos importantes, relacionados con la interacción, comunicación, evaluación y retroalimentación. Las plataformas educativas en ocasiones no responden al 100% a las necesidades de los centros educativos, razón por la cual es relevante realizar este análisis para la elaboración de una propuesta que fortalezca procesos, optimizando el modelo de enseñanza y aprendizaje virtual.The virtual teaching spaces, represented by innovative educational models, work under an e-learning design. In this regard, the present work is developed, which aims to analyze the perception of the virtual tutor when interacting with Blackboard through an instrument that helps to identify possible areas for improvement. A quantitative methodology was applied by collecting data through Microsoft Forms and analyzing the information through the Statistical Software SPSS 24. Through the obtained results, the areas for improvement are identified which provides important data that is related to interaction, communication, evaluation and feedback. Educational platforms sometimes do not respond perfectly to the needs of educational centers. For this reason, it is relevant to carry out this analysis for the development of a proposal that strengthens processes, optimizing the virtual teaching and learning model

Substrato com Organosuper® para formação de mudas de pepineiro em ambientes protegidos e bandejas de poliestireno

Culture environments, trays and doses of organic compost were evaluated in the formation of cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus L.). Five environmental conditions were tested: (A1) a greenhouse with height of 2.5 m, covered with polyethylene film, (A2) nursery with height of 2.5 m, monofilament fabric, 50% shading, (A3) nursery with height of 2.5 m, heat-reflective screen, 50% shading, (A4) nursery with a height of 1.8 m, covered with coconut tree straw and (A5) greenhouse with height of 4.0 m, covered with polyethylene film, with zenith opening and thermo-reflective cloth under the plastic. Trays of 72 (R1) and 128 (R2) cells were filled with 93% soil and 7% organic compound (S1), 86% soil and 14% organic compound (S2) and 79% soil and 21% organic compound (S3). It was used a randomized design in split-split-plot scheme, with five replicates (environments x trays x substrates). The greenhouses provide the best environments for the formation of cucumber seedlings. A tray of 72 cells is the best container, promoting more vigorous seedlings in substrate with soil and 7 or 14% organic compound.Ambientes de cultivo, bandejas e doses de composto orgânico foram avaliados na formação de mudas de pepino (Cucumis sativus L.). Cinco ambientes de cultivo foram testados: (A1) estufa agrícola com altura de 2,5 m coberta com filme de polietileno; (A2) viveiro com altura de 2,5 m, tela de monofilamento com 50% de sombreamento; (A3) viveiro com altura de 2,5 m, tela termorrefletora, com 50% de sombreamento; (A4) viveiro com altura de 1,8 m, coberto com palha de coqueiro, e (A5) estufa agrícola com altura de 4,0 m, coberta com filme de polietileno, com abertura zenital e tela termorrefletora sob o filme. Bandejas de 72 (R1) e 128 (R2) células foram preenchidas com 93% de solo e 7% de composto orgânico (S1); 86% de solo e 14% de composto orgânico (S2), e 79% de solo e 21% de composto orgânico (S3). Utilizou-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema de parcelas subsubdivididas, com cinco repetições (ambientes x bandejas x substratos). As estufas agrícolas propiciam os melhores ambientes para a formação das mudas de pepino. A bandeja de 72 células é o melhor recipiente, promovendo plântulas mais vigorosas no substrato com solo e 7 ou 14 % de composto orgânico.22623

Detergent resistant membrane-associated IDE in brain tissue and cultured cells: Relevance to Aβ and insulin degradation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) is implicated in the regulation of amyloid β (Aβ) steady-state levels in the brain, and its deficient expression and/or activity may be a risk factor in sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although IDE sub-cellular localization has been well studied, the compartments relevant to Aβ degradation remain to be determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results of live immunofluorescence, immuno gold electron-microscopy and gradient fractionation concurred to the demonstration that endogenous IDE from brain tissues and cell cultures is, in addition to its other localizations, a detergent-resistant membrane (DRM)-associated metallopeptidase. Our pulse chase experiments were in accordance with the existence of two pools of IDE: the cytosolic one with a longer half-life and the membrane-IDE with a faster turn-over. DRMs-associated IDE co-localized with Aβ and its distribution (DRMs vs. non-DRMs) and activity was sensitive to manipulation of lipid composition in vitro and in vivo. When IDE was mis-located from DRMs by treating cells with methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD), endogenous Aβ accumulated in the extracellular space and exogenous Aβ proteolysis was impaired. We detected a reduced amount of IDE in DRMs of membranes isolated from mice brain with endogenous reduced levels of cholesterol (Chol) due to targeted deletion of one seladin-1 allele. We confirmed that a moderate shift of IDE from DRMs induced a substantial decrement on IDE-mediated insulin and Aβ degradation in vitro.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results support the notion that optimal substrate degradation by IDE may require its association with organized-DRMs. Alternatively, DRMs but not other plasma membrane regions, may act as platforms where Aβ accumulates, due to its hydrophobic properties, reaching local concentration close to its Km for IDE facilitating its clearance. Structural integrity of DRMs may also be required to tightly retain insulin receptor and IDE for insulin proteolysis. The concept that mis-location of Aβ degrading proteases away from DRMs may impair the physiological turn-over of Aβ in vivo deserves further investigation in light of therapeutic strategies based on enhancing Aβ proteolysis in which DRM protease-targeting may need to be taken into account.</p

Multifunctionality of the [C2mim][Ln(fod)4] series (Ln = Nd-Tm except Pm):magnetic, luminescent and thermochemical studies

A series of nine tetrakis lanthanide β-diketonate complexes of the type [C2mim][Ln(fod)4] (C2mim = 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium, fod = 6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedionate) were prepared, with yields above 80%, and their thermochemical, photophysical and magnetic susceptibilities were evaluated. Thermochemical studies presented a rare and reversible conversion between two solid phases (polymorphism), characteristic of the [Ln(fod)4]− anion. Photophysical and magnetic studies revealed that Dy and Er presented the multifunctionality of being simultaneously SMMs and visible (Dy) or near infra-red (Er) emitters. The Nd, Ho and Tm analogues present characteristic emission bands in the NIR region (800–1200 nm), while Sm, Eu, Tb and Dy present emissions in the visible range. Magnetic susceptibility of Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Tm salts were measured in the temperature range of 2–300 K, showing paramagnetic behaviour, although with different regimes, with AC susceptibility measurements, at different frequencies in the range of 10–10 000 Hz, providing evidence of slow magnetic relaxation processes for Gd, Dy and Er analogues with SMM behavior.publishe

Characteristics of Dysphagia in Infants with Microcephaly Caused by Congenital Zika Virus Infection, Brazil, 2015.

We summarize the characteristics of dysphagia in 9 infants in Brazil with microcephaly caused by congenital Zika virus infection. The Schedule for Oral Motor Assessment, fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, and the videofluoroscopic swallowing study were used as noninstrumental and instrumental assessments. All infants had a degree of neurologic damage and showed abnormalities in the oral phase. Of the 9 infants, 8 lacked oral and upper respiratory tract sensitivity, leading to delays in initiation of the pharyngeal phase of swallowing. Those delays, combined with marked oral dysfunction, increased the risk for aspiration of food, particularly liquid foods. Dysphagia resulting from congenital Zika virus syndrome microcephaly can develop in infants >3 months of age and is severe

Towards precision medicine: defining and characterizing adipose tissue dysfunction to identify early immunometabolic risk in symptom-free adults from the GEMM family study

Interactions between macrophages and adipocytes are early molecular factors influencing adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction, resulting in high leptin, low adiponectin circulating levels and low-grade metaflammation, leading to insulin resistance (IR) with increased cardiovascular risk. We report the characterization of AT dysfunction through measurements of the adiponectin/leptin ratio (ALR), the adipo-insulin resistance index (Adipo-IRi), fasting/postprandial (F/P) immunometabolic phenotyping and direct F/P differential gene expression in AT biopsies obtained from symptom-free adults from the GEMM family study. AT dysfunction was evaluated through associations of the ALR with F/P insulin-glucose axis, lipid-lipoprotein metabolism, and inflammatory markers. A relevant pattern of negative associations between decreased ALR and markers of systemic lowgrade metaflammation, HOMA, and postprandial cardiovascular risk hyperinsulinemic, triglyceride and GLP-1 curves was found. We also analysed their plasma non-coding microRNAs and shotgun lipidomics profiles finding trends that may reflect a pattern of adipose tissue dysfunction in the fed and fasted state. Direct gene differential expression data showed initial patterns of AT molecular signatures of key immunometabolic genes involved in AT expansion, angiogenic remodelling and immune cell migration. These data reinforce the central, early role of AT dysfunction at the molecular and systemic level in the pathogenesis of IR and immunometabolic disorders

Insights into the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis from a murine model of stasis-induced dysbiosis, colonic metaplasia, and genetic susceptibility

Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2016. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of American Physiological Society for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 310 (2016): G973-G988, doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00017.2016.Gut dysbiosis, host genetics, and environmental triggers are implicated as causative factors in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), yet mechanistic insights are lacking. Longitudinal analysis of ulcerative colitis patients following total colectomy with ileal anal anastomosis (IPAA) where >50% develop pouchitis, offers a unique setting to examine cause vs. effect. To recapitulate human IPAA, we employed a mouse model of surgically created blind self-filling (SFL) and self- emptying (SEL) ileal loops using wild-type (WT), IL-10 KO (IL10), and TLR4 KO (T4), and IL10/T4 double KO mice. After 5 weeks, loop histology, host gene/protein expression, and bacterial 16s rRNA profiles were examined. SFL exhibit fecal stasis due to directional motility oriented towards the loop end, whereas SEL remain empty. In wild type mice, SFL, but not SEL, develop pouch-like microbial communities without accompanying active inflammation. However, in genetically susceptible IL-10-/- deficient mice, SFL, but not SEL, exhibit severe inflammation and mucosal transcriptomes resembling human pouchitis. The inflammation associated with IL- 10-/- required TLR4, as animals lacking both pathways displayed little disease. Furthermore, germ-free IL10-/- mice conventionalized with SFL, but not SEL, microbiota populations develop severe colitis. These data support essential roles of stasis-induced, colon-like microbiota, TLR4- mediated colonic metaplasia, and genetic susceptibility in the development of pouchitis and possibly UC. However, these factors by themselves are not sufficient. Similarities between this model and human UC/pouchitis provide opportunities for gaining insights into the mechanistic basis of IBD and for identification of targets for novel preventative and therapeutic interventions.NIDDK DK42086 (DDRCC), UH3 DK083993, Leona and Harry Helmsley Trust (SHARE), R37 DK47722, T32 DK07074, F32 DK105728, Gastrointestinal Research Foundation of Chicago, Peter and Carol Goldman Family Research grant.2017-06-0

Effect of yogurt containing polydextrose, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis HN019: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study in chronic constipation

BACKGROUND: Constipation is a frequent complaint and the combination of a prebiotic and probiotics could have a potentially synergic effect on the intestinal transit. The present study therefore aims to investigate the combination of polydextrose (Litesse®), L. acidophilus NCFM® and B. lactis HN019 in a yogurt on intestinal transit in subjects who suffer from constipation. METHODS: Patients with constipation were randomly divided into two groups, Control Group (CG) and Treatment Group (TG), and had to eat 180 ml of unflavored yogurt every morning for 14 days. Those in the CG received only yogurt, while the TG received yogurt containing polydextrose, L. acidophilus NCFM® (ATCC 700396) and B. lactis HN019 (AGAL NM97/09513). RESULTS: Favourable clinical response was assessed since Agachan score had a significant reduction at the end of the study in both groups and tended to be better in the TG. The subjects in the treatment group also had a shorter transit time at the end of the intervention compared to the control group (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The product containing yogurt with polydextrose, B. lactis HN019 and L. acidophilus NCFM® significantly shortened colonic transit time after two weeks in the TG compared to CG and may be an option for treatment of constipation

Why we shouldn’t blame women for gender disparity in academia : perspectives of women in zoology

The following letter, from a network of women zoologists, is a reply to the article of AlShebli et al. (2020), which suggests that female protégés reap more benefits when mentored by men and concludes that female mentors hinder the success of their female protégés and the quality of their impact. This contribution has two parts. First, we highlight the most relevant methodological flaws which, in our opinion, may have impacted the conclusions of AlShebli et al. (2020). Second, we discuss issues pertaining to women in science, bring a perspective of Women in Zoology and discuss how current diversity policies are positively changing our field