Matematički softver u nastavi matematike u hrvatskim školama – pregled GeoGebre i Geometer\u27s Sketchpada

This paper explores the benefits and possible problems that may be encountered in mathematical classrooms using mathematical software. In addition to exploring different types of mathematical software, the paper also focuses on two mathematical tools which have been translated into Croatian and are in widespread use in Croatian mathematics classrooms. The advantages and disadvantages of both tools are reviewed, along with the software\u27s capabilities, from the viewpoints of both foreign and Croatian scientists who researched the effect that such tools had on mathematics students. Lastly, a comparison between the two mathematical tools in use in the Republic of Croatia is presented, featuring both technical details as well as purely practical ones.Ovaj rad istražuje korisnost i moguće probleme s kojima bi se nastavnici mogli susresti u matematičkim učionicama koje upotrebljavaju matematički softver. Nakon kratkoga pregleda raznih tipova matematičkoga softvera rad se koncentrira na dva matematička alata koji su prevedeni na hrvatski jezik i koji su u upotrebi u hrvatskim matematičkim učionicama. Navedene su prednosti i nedostaci ovih programa kao i njihove mogućnosti sa stajališta hrvatskih, ali i stranih znanstvenika koji su istraživali utjecaj tih programa na učenike i studente. Također je dana usporedba između dva matematička programa koji se koriste u Republici Hrvatskoj, a koja se odnosi na tehničke, ali i na praktične detalje

EMOTICONS

“Emoticon (“icon mood“) is used in Instant Messaging. Nowadays it is unthinkable to write messages without emoticons whose function is to display the mood or facial expression of sender. Emotion is often used to alert recipients of the message to the real meaning of the message and may improve interpretation of plain text. Emoticons help compensate for the nonverbal aspect of communication in the virtual world of instant messages. This paper reviews styles that are now in use in the world, the history of origin of emoticons and their property rights

ISKUSTVO ZANESENOSTI KOD BUDUĆIH NASTAVNIKA TIJEKOM STUDIJA

According to Csikszentmihalyi (1990, pg. 4), flow is “an optimal, extremely enjoyable state which people experience when they are so involved in what they are doing that nothing else seems to matter...”. In this study flow has been measured with the Flow Questionnaire (Csikszentmihalyi & Csikszentmihalyi, 1988). The research has been conducted on the sample of 200 students. The aim of this research has been to determine whether there is a difference in the flow experience during studies among the students of the Faculty of Teacher Education (FTE) (Informatics, Primary education) and the students of the Faculty of Science (FS), Department of Mathematics (Teachers). It was also investigated which variables (knowledge and skills in computing science/informatics, subjective well-being) contribute to the more intense and more frequent flow experience during studies. Conclusions: There are no statistically significant differences in flow between students studying at the FTE and FS, and the average flow during studies for both groups was M=4.93, on the scale 1 to 8. Proportion of variance of flow explained by inspected variables was 37.6% and it is statistically significant (F=20.68; df=6; p<0.001), but the only significant predictors were positive affect (β=0,45; p<0,001) and negative affect (β=-0,25; p<0,001). The grades the students received have been used as a means of measuring knowledge and skill, however, it has been found that they stand in no connection with the intensity or frequency of the occurrence of flow.Prema Csikszentmihalyu (1990, str. 4), zanesenost je “optimalno, vrlo ugodno stanje koje ljudi doživljavaju kada su toliko zaokupljeni sa onime što rade da im ništa drugo nije važno...” U ovoj studiji zanesenost (eng. flow) mjerena je s Upitnikom zanesenosti (Csikszentmihalyi i Csikszentmihalyi, 1988). Istraživanje je provedeno na uzorku od 200 studenata. Cilj ovog istraživanja je bio da se utvrdi postoji li razlika između iskustva zanesenosti tijekom studija kod studenata Učiteljskog fakulteta (modul informatika, primarno obrazovanje) i studenata Prirodoslovno-matematičkog fakulteta (matematički odjel, nastavnički smjer). Istraženo je, također, koje varijable pridonose intenzivnijem i češćem iskustvu zanesenosti tijekom studija (znanje i sposobnosti u području računarstva/informatike, subjektivna dobrobit). Zaključci: ne postoji statistički značajna razlika u iskustvu zanesenosti između studenata UF-a i PMF-a, prosječno iskustvo zanesenosti tijekom studija za obje grupe je bilo M=4.93, na skali od 1 do 8. Postotak objašnjene varijance zanesenosti promatranim varijablama iznosi 37.6% i statistički je značajan (F=20.68; df=6; p<0.001), no jedini značajni prediktori bile su pozitivne emocije (β=0,45; p<0,001) i negativne emocije (β=-0,25; p<0,001). Ocjene koje su studenti dobivali su upotrijebljene kao sredstvo za mjerenje znanja i vještine, međutim zaključeno je da ne stoje u izravnoj vezi sa intenzitetom i frekvencijom iskustva zanesenosti

Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis Associated With Altered Production of Short Chain Fatty Acids in Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders

While gut microbiota dysbiosis has been linked with autism, its role in the etiology of other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) is largely underexplored. To our knowledge this is the first study to evaluate gut microbiota diversity and composition in 36 children from the Republic of Serbia diagnosed with NDD and 28 healthy children. The results revealed an increased incidence of potentially harmful bacteria, closely related to Clostridium species, in the NDD patient group compared to the Control group: Desulfotomaculum guttoideum (P lt 0.01), Intestinibacter bartlettii (P lt 0.05), and Romboutsia ilealis (P lt 0.001). On the other hand, significantly lower diversity of common commensal bacteria in the NDD group of patients was noticed. Enterococcus faecalis (P lt 0.05), Enterococcus gallinarum (P lt 0.01), Streptococcus pasteurianus (P lt 0.05), Lactobacillus rhamnosus (P lt 0.01) and Bifidobacteria sp. were detected in lower numbers of patients or were even absent in some NDD patients. In addition, butyrate-producing bacteria Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (P lt 0.01), Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum (P lt 0.05), and Eubacterium rectale (P = 0.07) were less frequent in the NDD patient group. In line with that, the levels of fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were determined. Although significant differences in SCFA levels were not detected between NDD patients and the Control group, a positive correlation was noted between number of rDNA amplicons obtained with universal primers and level of propionic acid, as well as a trend for levels of total SCFAs and butyric acid in the Control group. This correlation is lost in the NDD patient group, indicating that NDD patients' microbiota differs from the microbiota of healthy children in the presence or number of strong SCFA-producing bacteria. According to a range-weighted richness index it was observed that microbial diversity was significantly lower in the NDD patient group. Our study reveals that the intestinal microbiota from NDD patients differs from the microbiota of healthy children. It is hypothesized that early life microbiome might have an impact on GI disturbances and accompanied behavioral problems frequently observed in patients with a broad spectrum of NDD

Synergism between metformin and analgesics/vitamin B12 in a model of painful diabetic neuropathy

Metformin (a widely used antidiabetic drug) has demonstrated efficacy in models of painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN), as well as certain clinical efficacy in relieving/preventing PDN. This study aimed to determine the type of interaction between metformin and duloxetine/oxycodone/eslicarbazepine acetate [ESL]/vitamin B12 in relieving diabetic pain hypersensitivity. Antihyperalgesic efficacy was determined using a Von Frey apparatus in mice with streptozotocin-induced PDN. We examined metformin’s efficacy following oral (acute and prolonged 7-day treatment) and local (spinal and peripheral) application. The examined analgesics were administered in a single oral dose, whereas vitamin B12 was intraperitoneally administered for 7 days. In combination experiments, metformin (prolonged treatment) and analgesics/vitamin B12 were co-administered in fixed-dose fractions of their ED50 values and the type of interaction was determined using isobolographic analysis. Metformin produced dose-dependent antihyperalgesic effects in diabetic mice after oral (acute and prolonged 7-day treatment) and local spinal/peripheral application. Two-drug metformin combinations with analgesics/vitamin B12 also dose- dependently reduced mechanical hyperalgesia. The isobolographic analysis revealed that metformin synergises with analgesics/vitamin B12, with a 6–7 fold dose reduction of both drugs in the examined combinations. In conclusion, metformin reduces hyperalgesia in diabetic animals, most likely by acting at the spinal and pe- ripheral level. Additionally, it synergizes with duloxetine/oxycodone/ESL/vitamin B12 in reducing hyperalgesia. Metformin co-treatment may increase analgesic efficacy and enable the use of lower (and potentially safer) analgesic doses for treating PDN. Combined metformin-vitamin B12 use may provide more effective pain relief and mitigate metformin-induced vitamin B12 deficiency

Multimodalna kontrola hroničnog bola i komorbiditeta sa atipičnim analgeticima ‐,,više muva jednim udarcem“

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common rheumatic disease, affecting over 300 million people worldwide. It causes chronic pain, disability and is commonly associated with comorbid diseases (CMD) that cause worse health outcomes, more complex management, and increased healthcare costs. Current treatments (typical/atypical analgesics) have limited efficacy and/or tolerability and usually do not affect or can even worse CMD. In era of longer life expectancy, extended professional life and reduced pension funds in Serbia and Europe, there is a compelling need for maintaining functionality and working capability of older population. Our aim is to search for novel treatments that could concomitantly treat chronic pain and its major CMD: depression, cognitive impairment and/or cardiovascular disease (CVD). It was planned to test the effects of vortioxetine, a novel antidepressant with multimodal mechanism of action, on pain, depressive and cognitive-impairment behaviour and CV status in rat model of knee OA. Its effects will be compared to the effects of duloxetine, the only antidepressant used for pain relief in OA. Next, we will test the effects of 2-component combinations of vortioxetine/duloxetine with adjuvant treatments (regular exercise/metformin/nicotinamide), that showed the potential to alleviate pain, depression, reduced cognition and/or CVD in preclinical/clinical research. If proved effective and well tolerated, new treatment(s) could be implemented in clinical practice much faster and with significantly less investment, than those required to develop brand new drug, as they consist of drugs already approved for human use and safe, widely available and inexpensive non- pharmacologic measures.Osteoartritis (OA) je najčešć a reumatska bolest, koja pogađa preko 300 miliona ljudi širom sveta. Prouzrokuje hronični bol, invaliditet i obično je povezan sa komorbiditetima koji dovode do lošijih zdravstvenih ishoda, složenijeg lečenja i povećanja troškova zdravstvene zaštite. Trenutno dostupne terapijske opcije (tipični/atipični analgetici) imaju ograničenu efikasnost i/ili lošu podnošljivost, i obično ne utiču ili čak mogu pogoršati komorbiditete. U vremenu kada su ljudski i radni vek produženi, a penzioni fondovi u Srbiji i Evropi smanjeni, postoji velika potreba za održavanjem funkcionalnosti i radne sposobnosti starije populacije. Naš cilj je da pronađemo nove terapijske opcije koje bi istovremeno mogle da leče hronični bol i njegove glavne komorbiditete: depresiju, kognitivno oštećenje i/ili kardiovaskularne bolesti (KVB). Planirano je ispitivanje efekata vortioksetina, novog antidepresiva sa multimodalnim mehanizmom delovanja, na bol, depresivno ponašanje, kognitivno ošteć enje i kardiovaskularni status pacova u modelu OA kolena. Efekti vortioksetina biće poređeni sa efektima duloksetina, jedinog antidepresiva koji se koristi za ublažavanje bola kod OA. Zatim će biti ispitani efekti dvokomponentnih kombinacija vortioksetina/duloksetina sa adjuvantnim tretmanima (redovna fizička aktivnost/metformin/nikotinamid), koji su pokazali efikasnost u ublažavanju bola, depresije, narušene kognicije i/ili KVB u pretkliničkim/kliničkim istraživanjima. Ukoliko se pokaže da su efikasne i da se dobro tolerišu, nove terapijske opcije bi se mogle implementirati u kliničku praksu mnogo brže i sa znatno manje finansijskih ulaganja u poređenju sa vremenom i ulaganjima koja su potrebna za razvoj novog leka, jer se sastoje od lekova koji su već odobreni za ljudsku upotrebu i bezbednih, široko dostupnih i ekonomski povoljnih nefarmakoloških mera.VIII Kongres farmaceuta Srbije sa međunarodnim učešćem, 12-15.10.2022. Beogra

Efikasnost vortioksetina u modelu osteoartritisa kod pacova

Osteoarthritis is the most common rheumatic degenerative condition, with chronic joint pain being the major source of disability. Currently, available treatment options for alleviating pain are often ineffective and/or associated with unfavorable safety profiles (1). Vortioxetine is a novel multimodal antidepressant, an inhibitor of serotonin reuptake, but also an agonist, partial agonist, or antagonist of several serotonin (5-HT) receptors subtypes involved in pain modulation (2). The study aimed to examine the efficacy of vortioxetine compared to duloxetine, an antidepressant recommended for the treatment of osteoarthritis, in the rat model of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis was induced by intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA; 2 mg/25 μL) in the right knee of male Wistar rats. Vortioxetine/duloxetine was administered orally for 28 days following MIA injection. The antinociceptive effect of vortioxetine/duloxetine was assessed using von Frey, acetone, and weight-bearing test. The influence of treatments on animals’ well-being and motor performance was examined in the burrowing and rotarod test, respectively. Vortioxetine (2 and 10 mg/kg) and duloxetine (15 and 25 mg/kg) significantly reduced mechanical and cold allodynia, and improved weight borne on the ipsilateral hind paw in von Frey, acetone, and weight-bearing test, respectively. Vortioxetine had no significant effect on burrowing behavior, whereas duloxetine significantly reduced this inherent rodent activity. The rotarod test did not demonstrate a significant effect of treatment on motor performance/sedation. This study suggests comparable antinociceptive efficacy of vortioxetine with duloxetine, a referent drug, as well as a better impact on the animals’ well-being of vortioxetine.Osteoartritis predstavlja najčešće reumatsko degenerativno oboljenje, praćeno hroničnim bolom, glavnim uzrokom onesposobljenosti pacijenata. Postojeće terapijske opcije za otklanjanje bola su neretko nedovoljno efikasne i/ili udružene sa brojnim neželjenim efektima (1). Vortioksetin je noviji antidepresiv multimodalnog mehanizma dejstva; inhibira transporter za preuzimanje serotonina, a deluje i kao agonist, parcijalni agonist ili antagonist različitih podtipova serotoninskih (5-HT) receptora uključenih u modulaciju bola (2). Cilj ovog rada je bio ispitati efikasnost vortioksetina u poređenju sa duloksetinom, antidepresivom preporučenim za lečenje osteoartritisa, u modelu osteoartritisa kod pacova. Osteoartritis je indukovan intraartikularnom injekcijom natrijum-monojodacetata (MIA; 2 mg/25 μL) u desno koleno mužjaka pacova Wistar soja. Vortioksetin/duloksetin je primenjivan oralno svakodnevno tokom 28 dana nakon injekcije MIA. Procena antinociceptivne efikasnosti vortioksetina/duloksetina ispitivana je korišćenjem von Frey, aceton testa i testa raspodele težine (eng. weight‐bearing). Uticaj tretmana na dobrobit životinja (eng. well‐being), kao i motornu spretnost ispitivan je u testu kopanja i rotarod testu, redom. Vortioksetin (2 i 10 mg/kg) i duloksetin (15 i 25 mg/kg) su značajno smanjili mehaničku i hladnu alodiniju, i poboljšali oslanjanje životinja na ipsilateralnu šapu u von Frey, aceton i testu raspodele težine, redom. Vortioksetin nije imao značajan uticaj na aktivnost životinja u testu kopanja, dok je duloksetin značajno smanjio ovu inherentnu aktivnost glodara. U rotarod testu nije pokazan značajan uticaj tretmana na motorne performanse/sedaciju životinja. Ova studija je pokazala da su antinociceptivni efekti vortioksetina i referentnog leka duloksetina uporedivi, kao i povoljniji uticaj vortioksetina na opštu dobrobit životinja.VIII Kongres farmaceuta Srbije sa međunarodnim učešćem, 12-15.10.2022. Beogra

Učešće serotonergičkih mehanizama u antinociceptivnom dejstvu metformina

Metformin, a well-known antidiabetic drug, has been shown to possess analgesic properties in inflammatory pain models, but the mechanisms of its antinociceptive effects are not completely understood (1,2). We aimed to examine the involvement of serotonergic mechanisms in metformin-induced antinociception in a model of inflammatory pain, using the formalin test in mice. Firstly, we examined the antinociceptive effects of intraperitoneally administered metformin in the first and second phase of the test. Then, the involvement of serotonergic receptors was evaluated by intraperitoneally pretreating mice with a 5-HT1B/1D (GR127935) or 5-HT1A receptor antagonist (WAY100635). Further, we examined the effect of metformin after depletion of endogenous serotonin with a tryptophan-hydroxylase inhibitor (PCPA; applied intraperitoneally for 4 days). Additionally, to avoid misinterpretation of motor incoordination, we performed the rotarod test with the highest tested metformin dose. Metformin (50-200 mg/kg) produced significant and dose-dependent antinociceptive effects (17-81%) in the second (inflammatory) phase of the test. Pretreatment with antagonists significantly reduced the antinociceptive effect of metformin (150 mg/kg). GR127935 inhibited the effects of metformin by 67% (1 mg/kg) and 100% (3 mg/kg), whereas the inhibitory effects for WAY100635 were 19% (1 mg/kg) and 68% (3 mg/kg). Depletion of serotonin with PCPA (100 mg/kg/day) significantly reduced the antinociceptive effects of higher metformin doses (150 and 200 mg/kg). Metformin (200 mg/kg) had no influence on rotarod performance. This study demonstrates that 5-HT1B/1D and 5-HT1A receptors are involved in metformin’s antinociceptive effects and that metformin’s action on these receptors seems to be indirect (mediated by endogenous serotonin released by metformin).Metformin je dobro poznat antidijabetik, za koji je pokazano da poseduje analgetička svojstva u modelima inflamatornog bola. Međutim, mehanizmi njegovog antinociceptivnog dejstva nisu u potpunosti rasvetljeni (1,2). Cilj ovog rada je bio ispitati učešće serotonergičkih mehanizama u antinociceptivnom dejstvu metformina u inflamatornom modelu bola – korišćenjem formalinskog testa kod miševa. Inicijalno su ispitani antinociceptivni efekti metformina, nakon intraperitonealne primene, u prvoj i drugoj fazi testa. Uključenost serotoninskih receptora je procenjena nakon intraperitonealne primene antagonista 5-HT 1B/1D (GR127935) ili 5-HT1A (WAY100635) receptora. U nastavku eksperimenata, efekat metformina je ispitan nakon deplecije endogenog serotonina, primenom inhibitora triptofan-hidroksilaze (PCPA; primenjen intraperitonealno tokom 4 dana). Dodatno, efekat najveće testirane doze metformina je ispitan u rotarod testu, kako bi se isključila mogućnost pogrešnog tumačenja motorne inkoordinacije. Metformin (50-200 mg/kg) je pokazao značajno i dozno-zavisno antinociceptivno dejstvo (17-81%) u drugoj (inflamatornoj) fazi testa. Primena antagonista je značajno smanjila antinociceptivni efekat metformina (150 mg/kg). GR127935 je inhibirao efekte metformina za 67% (1 mg/kg) i 100% (3 mg/kg), dok su inhibitorni efekti WAY100635 bili 19% (1 mg/kg) i 68% (3 mg/kg). Deplecija serotonina korišćenjem PCPA (100 mg/kg/dan) je značajno smanjila antinociceptivne efekte metformina primenjenog u većim dozama (150 i 200 mg/kg). Metformin (200 mg/kg) nije imao značajan uticaj na performanse miševa u rotarod testu. Ova studija je pokazala uključenost 5-HT1B/1D i 5-HT1A receptora u antinociceptivnom dejstvu metformina, koje je verovatno posledica indirektnog uticaja leka na receptore (posredstvom oslobađanja endogenog serotonina od strane metformina).VIII Kongres farmaceuta Srbije sa međunarodnim učešćem, 12-15.10.2022. Beogra