bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using protein-per-mRNA differences among human tissues in codon optimization
Authors: Hernandez-Alias Xavier , Benisty Hannah , Radusky Leandro G. , Serrano Luis , Schaefer Martin H.
Published: February 2023

Background

Codon usage and nucleotide composition of coding sequences have profound effects on protein expression. However, while it is recognized that different tissues have distinct tRNA profiles and codon usages in their transcriptomes, the effect of tissue-specific codon optimality on protein synthesis remains elusive.

Results

We leverage existing state-of-the-art transcriptomics and proteomics datasets from the GTEx project and the Human Protein Atlas to compute the protein-to-mRNA ratios of 36 human tissues. Using this as a proxy of translational efficiency, we build a machine learning model that identifies codons enriched or depleted in specific tissues. We detect two clusters of tissues with an opposite pattern of codon preferences. We then use these identified patterns for the development of CUSTOM, a codon optimizer algorithm which suggests a synonymous codon design in order to optimize protein production in a tissue-specific manner. In human cell-line models, we provide evidence that codon optimization should take into account particularities of the translational machinery of the tissues in which the target proteins are expressed and that our approach can design genes with tissue-optimized expression profiles.

Conclusions

We provide proof-of-concept evidence that codon preferences exist in tissue-specific protein synthesis and demonstrate its application to synthetic gene design. We show that CUSTOM can be of benefit in biological and biotechnological applications, such as in the design of tissue-targeted therapies and vaccines.
Listening to music during a repeated sprint test improves performance and psychophysiological responses in healthy and physically active male adults
Authors: Jebabli Nidhal , Ben Aabderrahman Abderraouf , Boullosa Daniel , Chtourou Hamdi , Ouerghi Nejmeddine , Rhibi Fatma , Govindasamy Karuppasamy , Saeidi Ayoub , Clark Cain C. T. , Granacher Urs , Zouhal Hassane
Published: February 2023

Background

It is well-documented that listening to music has the potential to improve physical performance during intense physical exercise. Less information is available on the timing of music application. This study aimed to investigate the effects of listening to preferred music during the warm up of a subsequent test or during the test on performance of repeated sprint sets (RSS) in adult males.

Methods

In a randomized cross-over design, 19 healthy males (age, 22.1 ± 1.2 years; body mass, 72.7 ± 9.3 kg; height, 1.79 ± 0.06 m; BMI, 22.6 ± 2.2 kg m−2) performed a test including 2 sets of 5*20-m repeated-sprints under one of three conditions: listening to preferred music during the test; listening to preferred music during the warm-up; or not listening to music. The assessed parameters comprised RSS performance indices, blood lactate, heart rate, the pacing strategy profile, rating of perceived exertion, and a feeling scale.

Results

For performance indices during set 1 of the RSS test, we found a significant decrease in total sum sequence, fast time index and fatigue index in the listening to preferred music condition compared to the no music condition (total sum sequence: p = 0.006, d = 0.93; fast time index: p = 0.003, d = 0.67; fatigue index: p < 0.001; d = 1.30) and the listening to preferred music during the warm-up condition (fast time index: p = 0.002; d = 1.15; fatigue index: p = 0.006; d = 0.74). However, there was no significant effect of listening to preferred music on physical performance during set 2 of the RSS test. Compared to the no music condition, blood lactate concentrations were higher in the listening to preferred music during the test condition (p = 0.025; d = 0.92). In addition, listening to preferred music appears not to have an effect on heart rate, the pacing strategy profile, perceived exertion, and affective responses before, during and after the RSS test.

Conclusion

Findings from this study revealed that RSS performances were better (FT and FI indices) in the PMDT compared with the PMWU condition. Moreover, in set 1 of the RSS test, better RSS indices were found in the PMDT compared to NM condition.
Sex differences in friendships and loneliness in autistic and non-autistic children across development
Authors: Libster Natalie , Knox Azia , Engin Selin , Geschwind Daniel , Parish-Morris Julia , Kasari Connie
Published: February 2023

Background

Autistic children have been shown to have less complete definitions of friendships and higher levels of loneliness than their non-autistic peers. However, no known studies have explored sex differences in autistic children’s understanding of friendships and reported loneliness across development. Autistic girls demonstrate higher levels of social motivation than autistic boys and appear to “fit in” with their peers, but they often have difficulty recognizing reciprocal friendships during middle childhood. As autistic girls develop a more complex understanding of friendship during adolescence, they may begin to redefine their friendships and experience heightened loneliness. Here, we explored how autistic and non-autistic boys and girls define the meaning of friendship and report feelings of loneliness across development. We also examined their perceptions of friendships and loneliness.

Methods

This mixed-methods study analyzed the transcribed clinical evaluations of 58 autistic children (29 girls) matched to 42 non-autistic children (21 girls) on age and IQ. Transcripts were coded for four categories that children used to define friendships—personality, companionship, dependability, and intimacy—and for reported loneliness. We then compared these codes across diagnosis, sex, and age. Content analyses were further implemented to gain a more holistic understanding of children’s perceptions of friendships and loneliness.

Results

Girls, regardless of diagnosis, were more likely than boys to refer to personality when defining the meaning of friendship, and the likelihood of referring to dependability and intimacy increased with age. Most children reported having at least one friend, though some autistic adolescents reported not having friends or were uncertain whether they had friends. While autistic and non-autistic boys and girls were equally likely to report feeling lonely at times, several autistic girls and boys reported being frequently lonely.

Limitations

This study was a secondary data analysis. The standardized set of questions on the ADOS limited the amount of information that children provided about their friendships and perceptions of loneliness.

Conclusion

As with non-autistic children, autistic children acquire a more complex understanding of friendship throughout development. However, as children begin to prioritize dependability and intimacy in friendships, autistic adolescents may have difficulty developing friendships characterized by these constructs. Furthermore, the quantity and/or quality of autistic children’s friendships may not be sufficient to alleviate loneliness.
Cerebellar hematoma in severe hemophilia with inhibitor on emicizumab prophylaxis: a case report
Authors: Albattat Sami , Alabdultaif Abbas , Albattat Fatimah , Albattat Batla
Published: February 2023

Background

Emicizumab is a novel prophylactic medication used to treat patients with hemophilia A. It is indicated to minimize the frequency of bleeding episodes and the severity of serious bleeding in patients with hemophilia A utilizing inhibitors. However, some cases of bleeding episodes have been reported, and more data are needed regarding their management and expected outcomes.

Case presentation

We report a case of a 4-year-old Saudi Arabian boy with severe hemophilia A who presented with a post-traumatic cerebral hemorrhage. The patient, with high titer inhibitors, was on emicizumab prophylaxis therapy. On hospital admission, he received tranexamic acid (10 mg intravenously, every 6 hours), and recombinant activated factor VII 120 µg/kg every 2 hours for 2 days then every 4 hours for 4 days. On follow-up, the patient showed no signs of neurological deficit. There was no need for emergency neurosurgical intervention since the bleeding had been controlled throughout the first 2 days. There were no recorded thrombotic sequelae or neurological complications, with complete resolution within 10 days.

Conclusions

This case implies that low-dose recombinant activated factor VII might be used safely and effectively with patients with hemophilia A on emicizumab prophylaxis, to reduce the risk of cerebral hemorrhage or another episode of serious bleeding along with its long-term complications.
Existence and multiplicity of solutions for three-point boundary value problems with instantaneous and noninstantaneous impulses
Authors: Yao Wangjin
Published: February 2023

In this paper, three-point boundary value problems for second-orderp-Laplacian differential equations with instantaneous and noninstantaneous impulses are studied. The existence of at least one classical solution and infinitely many classical solutions is obtained by using variational methods and critical point theory. In addition, some examples are given to illustrate our main results.
The reproduction rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 different variants recently circulated in human: a narrative review
Authors: Karimizadeh Zahra , Dowran Razieh , Mokhtari-azad Talat , Shafiei-Jandaghi Nazanin-Zahra
Published: February 2023

SARS-COV-2 is responsible for the current worldwide pandemic, which started on December 2019 in Wuhan, China. On March 2020 World Health Organization announced COVID-19 as the new pandemic. Some SARS-COV-2 variants have increased transmissibility, cause more severe disease (e.g., increased hospitalizations or deaths), are resistant to antibodies produced by the previous infection or vaccination, and there is more difficulty in treatment and diagnosis of them. World Health Organization considered them as SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. The introductory reproduction rate (R0) is an epidemiologic index of the transmissibility of the virus, defined as the average number of persons infected by the virus after known contact with an infectious person in a susceptible population. An R0 > 1 means that the virus is spreading exponentially, and R0 < 1, means that the outbreak is subsiding. In various studies, the estimated R and VOC growth rates were reported to be greater than the ancestral strains. However, it was also a low level of concordance between the estimated Rt of the same variant in different studies. It is because the R of a variant not only dependent on the biological and intrinsic factors of the virus but also several parameters can affect the R0, including the duration of contagiousness and the likelihood of infection per contact. Evaluation of changes in SARS-CoV-2 has shown that the rate of human-to-human transmission of this virus has increased. Like other viruses with non-human sources which succeeded in surviving in the human population, SARS-CoV-2 has gradually adapted to the human population, and its ability to transmit from human to human has increased. Of course, due to the continuous changes in this virus, it is crucial to survey the rate of transmission of the virus over time.
Pharmacovigilance-based drug repurposing: searching for putative drugs with hypohidrosis or anhidrosis adverse events for use against hyperhidrosis
Authors: Liu Yi , Liu Yanguo , Fan Rongrong , Kehriman Nurmuhammat , Zhang Xiaohong , Zhao Bin , Huang Lin
Published: February 2023

Background

Drug repurposing refers to the application of existing drugs to new therapeutic indications. As phenotypic indicators of human drug response, drug side effects may provide direct signals and unique opportunities for drug repurposing.

Objectives

We aimed to identify drugs frequently associated with hypohidrosis or anhidrosis adverse reactions (that is, the opposite condition of hyperhidrosis) from the pharmacovigilance database, which could be potential candidates as anti-hyperhidrosis treatment agents.

Methods

In this observational, retrospective, pharmacovigilance study, adverse event reports of hypohidrosis or anhidrosis in the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) were assessed between January 2004 and December 2021 using reporting odds ratio (ROR) estimates and categorized by the World Health Organization Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification code. The onset time of drug-associated hypohidrosis or anhidrosis was also examined.

Results

There were 540 reports of 192 drugs with suspected drug-associated hypohidrosis or anhidrosis in the FAERS database, of which 39 drugs were found to have statistically significant signals. Nervous system drugs were most frequently reported (187 cases, 55.82%), followed by alimentary tract and metabolism drugs (35 cases, 10.45%), genitourinary system and sex hormones (28 cases, 8.36%), and dermatologicals (22 cases, 6.57%). The top 3 drug subclasses were antiepileptics, drugs for urinary frequency and incontinence, and antidepressants. Taking disproportionality signals, pharmacological characteristics of drugs and appropriate onset time into consideration, the main putative drugs for hyperhidrosis were glycopyrronium, solifenacin, oxybutynin, and botulinum toxin type A. Other drugs, such as topiramate, zonisamide, agalsidase beta, finasteride, metformin, lamotrigine, citalopram, ciprofloxacin, bupropion, duloxetine, aripiprazole, prednisolone, and risperidone need more investigation.

Conclusions

Several candidate agents among hypohidrosis or anhidrosis-related drugs were identified that may be redirected for diminishing sweat production. There are affirmative data for some candidate drugs, and the remaining proposed candidate drugs without already known sweat reduction mechanisms of action should be further explored.
Early identification and treatment for peripheral arterial disease in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease
Authors: Li Lu-guang , Ma Xin
Published: February 2023

Ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) is a major cause of mortality and disability worldwide and is often caused by atherosclerosis. As a systemic disease, atherosclerosis usually affects multiple vascular beds, mainly including cerebral, coronary, and peripheral arteries. Therefore, ICVD is easily complicated by lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD). ICVD patients with PAD have more serious symptoms and a worse prognosis, however, neurologists might neglect the evaluation and management of the coexistent PAD, and there is still a lack of consensuses about the diagnosis and treatment for such patients. By summarizing relevant research progresses, this review showed that duplex ultrasound had more advantages in the early screening and evaluation of PAD in ICVD patients among multiple methods to diagnose PAD. Furthermore, the current evidence seems to support that single-drug antiplatelet can be used as the basic treatment, and new antithrombotic strategies, such as ticagrelor only or aspirin combined with low-dose rivaroxaban are expected to further reduce the incidence of stroke for ICVD patients with PAD. More effective treatments would be explored by large-scale trials to guide the clinical management to prevent secondary stroke for such patients.
Academics looks on the concept of "merit"
Authors: Demirbilek Nesip
Published: February 2023

Merit is a popular social and cultural leitmotif in neoliberal society. It promises justice, equity, and social mobility for all by promoting the ethos that with the right skills, hard work and creativity, anyone can 'climb' the market-based social ladder. The aim of the study is to determine how academics conceptualize and perceive the concept of merit through metaphors. Phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research methods, and easy accessibility technique, one of the sampling methods with unknown probability, were used in the selection of the study group. The study included 101 academics working at Bingöl University in the 2020–2021 academic year. The metaphor sentence was sent to academics online. "Content analysis" technique was used to analyze the data. In the research, gold and justice metaphors were produced the most. As a result of the research, it was determined that merit is valuable and necessary because it provides justice as it should be given to those who deserve it and is closely related to the development of society. It was also concluded that it is a source of success and productivity because it provides a healthy functioning.
Development of a methodology for predicting landslide hazards at a regional scale
Authors: Richer Blanche , Saeidi Ali , Boivin Maxime , Rouleau Alain , Lévesque Yan
Published: February 2023

Landslide risk analysis is a common geotechnical evaluation and it aims to protect life and infrastructure. In the case of sensitive clay zones, landslides can affect large areas and are difficult to predict. Here we propose a methodology to determine the landslide hazard across a large territory, and we apply our approach to the Saint-Jean-Vianney area, Quebec, Canada. The initial step consists of creating a 3D model of the surficial deposits of the target area. After creating a chart of the material electrical resistivity adapted for eastern Canada, we applied electric induction to interpret the regional soil. We transposed parameter values obtained from the laboratory to a larger scale, that is to a regional slope using the results of a back analysis undertaken earlier, on a smaller slide within the same area. The regional 3D model of deposits is then used to develop a zonation map of slopes that are at risk and their respective constraint areas with the study region. This approach allowed us to target specific areas where a more precise stability analysis would be required. Our methodology offers an effective tool for stability analysis in territories characterized by the presence of sensitive clays.
Critical design choices in healthcare simulation education: a 4C/ID perspective on design that leads to transfer
Authors: Frerejean Jimmy , van Merriënboer Jeroen J. G. , Condron Claire , Strauch Ulrich , Eppich Walter
Published: February 2023

Background

Healthcare simulation education often aims to promote transfer of learning: the application of knowledge, skills, and attitudes acquired during simulations to new situations in the workplace. Although achieving transfer is challenging, existing theories and models can provide guidance.

Recommendations

This paper provides five general recommendations to design simulations that foster transfer: (1) emphasize whole-task practice, (2) consider a cognitive task analysis, (3) embed simulations within more comprehensive programs, (4) strategically combine and align simulation formats, and (5) optimize cognitive load. We illustrate the application of these five recommendations with a blueprint for an educational program focusing on simulation activities.

Conclusions

More evidence-informed approaches to healthcare simulation might require a paradigm shift. We must accept that a limited number of simulations is not enough to develop complex skills. It requires comprehensive programs that combine simulation sessions with workplace learning.
Team-based learning-adopted strategy in pharmacy education: pharmacology and medicinal chemistry students’ perceptions
Authors: Attia Reem T. , Mandour Asmaa A.
Published: February 2023

Background

Team-based learning (TBL) provides an advanced teaching method for healthcare education; it is characterised by being an interactive teaching session that allows groups of learners to work together in teams to discuss and apply what they have learnt to certain clinical scenarios. The following study aims to evaluate the impact of TBL strategy on the students' comprehension and acquired knowledge, to allow better application and integration of knowledge. The aim of the study was to improve pharmacy students' skills in achieving learning outcomes by adapting TBL pedagogy in the lectures. Students’ feedbacks were collected via post-lecture survey.

Results

The study was applied to pharmacy students covering two courses: Pharmacology III (Level 4) and Medicinal Chemistry I (Level 3) in a period of two-week lectures through the first semester of the academic year 2021/2022 in Future University in Egypt. The selected topics-related preparation materials were previously available on each course moodle page prior to the actual lecture, for the students to get prepared including growth hormone, sex hormones and their associated diseases for the pharmacology course and COVID-19 management for the Medicinal Chemistry course. The TBL lecture was started by dividing the students into teams and then readiness assurance tests were given, as individual readiness assurance test and then team readiness assurance test conceptual test were applied. The assessment of the students’ decision-making skills and problem solving was evaluated through solving-related clinical cases. All the learning outcomes were achieved with maximum participation and interaction via an open discussion between the lecturer and the students during the lecture. A total of 116 students answered the survey and confirmed their satisfaction, better understanding and more participation in TBL lectures compared to other topics taught with the ordinary methods. More than half of the students recommended the TBL method for better perception and participation.

Conclusion

The students felt great appreciation for the team-based lecturing. Also, recommendations and suggestions were directed towards increasing the percentage of TBL lectures in the curriculum, as it helped them to concentrate more with high participation levels.
Objective measurement of prosodic features of speech of hearing-impaired Egyptian children with cochlear implants
Authors: Elhakeem Engy Samy , Elmaghraby Riham Mohamed , Ibrahim Sara Magdy
Published: February 2023

Background

Prosody is an important acoustic and linguistic component of speech that greatly contributes to speech intelligibility. Speech of hearing-impaired children shows various deviations from their normal-hearing counterparts due to complex physiological mechanisms.

Methods

Acoustic analysis of the prosodic production of hearing-impaired, cochlear-implanted, Egyptian children, and comparing them to a normal group of normal-hearing peers, using objective measures. Cases group included 30 hearing-impaired verbal children from the age of 6 to 10 years using cochlear implant devices. The controls group included 30 normal-hearing children within the same age range. Recording and analysis of both groups’ speech samples were done using real-time pitch software, generic syllabic rate, and intonation stimulability software.

Results

Significant differences were found between the two studied groups where decreased pitch range, increased loudness variability, increased pause duration, and decreased syllabic rate were found in hearing-impaired children.

Conclusion

Prosodic differences between hearing-impaired children with cochlear implants and normal-hearing children could be measured objectively giving a numeric profile that could be used as a measure to monitor the progress of their speech with therapy.
Indirect Estimation of the Timing of First Union Dissolution With Incomplete Marriage Histories
Authors: John Ben Malinga , Nitsche Natalie
Published: February 2023

The lack of nationally representative data with detailed marriage histories in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) impedes a comprehensive understanding of essential aspects of union dissolution, such as the timing of first union dissolution, in these countries. We propose a method for estimating quantum-adjusted measures of the timing of first union dissolution from incomplete marriage histories. This method, indirect life table of first union dissolution (ILTUD), estimates the first union survival function from a simple tabulation of ever-married women by duration since first union, classified by union dissolution status (intact vs. dissolved first union). It then uses the relationships between life table functions to generate the distribution of marriages ending each year (θt) for a given marriage cohort. Using this distribution, ILTUD generates quantum-adjusted first union survival rates from which the percentiles of first union dissolution are calculated. ILTUD estimates are consistent with estimates produced using traditional statistical methods, such as the Kaplan–Meier estimator. In addition, ILTUD is simple to implement and has minimal data requirements, which are available in most nationally representative surveys. Thus, the ILTUD method has the potential to broaden our understanding of union dissolution dynamics in LMICs.
The Effects of Nicotine- and Cigarette-Related Products on Osteogenesis, Bone Formation, and Bone Mineralization: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gruber Maxwell D. , Gibbs David , Vignolles-Jeong Joshua , Viljoen Stephanus , Grossbach Andrew J. , Xu David
Published: February 2023

BACKGROUND:

Many clinicians associate nicotine as the causative agent in the negative and deleterious effects of smoking on bone growth and spine fusion. Although nicotine is the primary driver of physiological addiction in smoking, isolated and controlled use of nicotine is one of the most effective adjuncts to quitting smoking.

OBJECTIVE:

To explore the relationship between nicotine and noncombustion cigarette products on bone growth.

METHODS:

One thousand five studies were identified, of which 501 studies were excluded, leaving 504 studies available for review. Of note, 52 studies were deemed to be irrelevant. Four hundred fifty-two studies remained for eligibility assessment. Of the remaining 452, 218 failed to assess study outcomes, 169 failed to assess bone biology, 13 assessed 5 patients or fewer, and 12 were deemed to be ineligible of the study criteria. Forty studies remained for inclusion within this systematic review.

RESULTS:

Of the 40 studies identified for inclusion within the study, 30 studies were classified as “Animal Basic Science,” whereas the remaining 10 were categorized as “Human Basic Science.” Of the 40 studies, 11 noted decreased cell proliferation and boney growth, whereas 8 showed an increase. Four studies noted an increase in gene expression products, whereas 11 noted a significant decrease.

CONCLUSION:

The results of this study demonstrate that nicotine has a variety of complex interactions on osteoblast and osteoclastic activities. Nicotine demonstrates dose-dependent effects on osteoblast proliferation, boney growth, and gene expression. Further study is warranted to extrapolate the effects of solitary nicotine on clinical outcomes.
Hacking hematopoiesis – emerging tools for examining variant effects
Authors: Gundry Michael , Sankaran Vijay G.
Published: February 2023

Hematopoiesis is a continuous process of blood and immune cell production. It is orchestrated by thousands of gene products that respond to extracellular signals by guiding cell fate decisions to meet the needs of the organism. Although much of our knowledge of this process comes from work in model systems, we have learned a great deal from studies on human genetic variation. Considerable insight has emerged from studies on presumed monogenic blood disorders, which continue to provide key insights into the mechanisms critical for hematopoiesis. Furthermore, the emergence of large-scale biobanks and cohorts has uncovered thousands of genomic loci associated with blood cell traits and diseases. Some of these blood cell trait-associated loci act as modifiers of what were once thought to be monogenic blood diseases. However, most of these loci await functional validation. Here, we discuss the validation bottleneck and emerging methods to more effectively connect variant to function. In particular, we highlight recent innovations in genome editing, which have paved the path forward for high-throughput functional assessment of loci. Finally, we discuss existing barriers to progress, including challenges in manipulating the genomes of primary hematopoietic cells.
Heart in a dish – choosing the rightin vitromodel
Authors: Drakhlis Lika , Zweigerdt Robert
Published: February 2023

The heart is the first functional organ established during embryogenesis. Investigating heart development and disease is a fascinating and crucial field of research because cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Therefore, there is great interest in establishing in vitro models for recapitulating both physiological and pathological aspects of human heart development, tissue function and malfunction. Derived from pluripotent stem cells, a large variety of three-dimensional cardiac in vitro models have been introduced in recent years. In this At a Glance article, we discuss the available methods to generate such models, grouped according to the following classification: cardiac organoids, cardiac microtissues and engineered cardiac tissues. For these models, we provide a systematic overview of their applications for disease modeling and therapeutic development, as well as their advantages and limitations to assist scientists in choosing the most suitable model for their research purpose.
The synthetic TRPML1 agonist ML-SA1 rescues Alzheimer-related alterations of the endosomal-autophagic-lysosomal system
Authors: Somogyi Aleksandra , Kirkham Emily D. , Lloyd-Evans Emyr , Winston Jincy , Allen Nicholas D. , Mackrill John J. , Anderson Karen E. , Hawkins Phillip T. , Gardiner Sian E. , Waller-Evans Helen , Sims Rebecca , Boland Barry , O'Neill Cora
Published: February 2023

Abnormalities in the endosomal-autophagic-lysosomal (EAL) system are an early event in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying these abnormalities are unclear. The transient receptor potential channel mucolipin 1(TRPML1, also known as MCOLN1), a vital endosomal-lysosomal Ca2+ channel whose loss of function leads to neurodegeneration, has not been investigated with respect to EAL pathogenesis in late-onset AD (LOAD). Here, we identify pathological hallmarks of TRPML1 dysregulation in LOAD neurons, including increased perinuclear clustering and vacuolation of endolysosomes. We reveal that induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived human cortical neurons expressing APOE ε4, the strongest genetic risk factor for LOAD, have significantly diminished TRPML1-induced endolysosomal Ca2+ release. Furthermore, we found that blocking TRPML1 function in primary neurons by depleting the TRPML1 agonist PI(3,5)P2 via PIKfyve inhibition, recreated multiple features of EAL neuropathology evident in LOAD. This included increased endolysosomal Ca2+ content, enlargement and perinuclear clustering of endolysosomes, autophagic vesicle accumulation and early endosomal enlargement. Strikingly, these AD-like neuronal EAL defects were rescued by TRPML1 reactivation using its synthetic agonist ML-SA1. These findings implicate defects in TRPML1 in LOAD EAL pathogenesis and present TRPML1 as a potential therapeutic target.
Ketamine infiltration decreases the need for opioids after thyroid surgery
Authors: Sellami Moncef , Zouche Imen , Ben Ayed Mariam , Bouhali Maroua , Ben Ayed Khadija , Ktata Salma , Hammami Boutheina , Chaabouni Mohamed Amine , Charfeddine Ilhem
Published: February 2023

Background: Postoperative pain increases the risk of postoperative complications and may predispose patients to chronic post-surgical pain. This study aims to evaluate the impact of ketamine wound infiltration versus placebo at the end of thyroid surgery on postoperative pain and analgesic requirements.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, we prospectively studied patients who underwent thyroid surgery. Patients were randomized into two groups: group S, where local infiltration was performed using 10 ml of a physiological saline solution; and group K, where 10 ml of a solution containing 2 mg/kg ketamine was infiltrated. Standardized thyroidectomies were performed in the 2 groups. Pain perception was measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) every 10 minutes in the post-anesthetic care unit (PACU) for 2 hours and thereafter every 6 hours during the first 24 hours. The opioid requirement in the PACU was evaluated. A comparison between the 2 groups was carried out.

Results: Postoperatively, the mean VAS was higher in group S compared to group K during all PACU stay periods and the first 24 hours. Pain scores during swallowing were significantly lower for group K in the PACU at 0, 10, and 20 minutes. The mean morphine consumption in the PACU was 0.71 mg and 0 mg respectively in group S and group K (p=0.03). The incidence of nausea and vomiting was similar in both groups. 

Conclusions: Ketamine wound infiltration is an efficient modality to reduce postoperative opioid consumption compared to a placebo after thyroid surgery.
PERSONAL BRANDING OF A TEACHER - AN APPROACH INTO E-EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Brandabur Raluca ecaterina
Published: February 2023

The central character/figure of the learning process is undoubtedly the teacher. A good teacher defines the educational process, being it classical or using modern methodologies. The dynamics of the educational media was potentiated in the last decades by the astonishing evolution of electronic media, which leads to what today we name e-learning. The constant ratio between the educator and the student is maintained but the approach is sometimes dramatically changed.

This paper aims to address the educational process in its modern version, in terms of e-learning and marketing. Thus, the educator as a "provider of educational services" reconfirms its crucial role in this market. An approach like this, rid of "clothing" of a strictly social vision (education = social obligation) allows teachers to promote themselves and thus to promote the institute within which they operates. The principle is simple, and it is already used by private institutions of education. The difference consists in the fact that educational institutions are using their teachers notoriety to attract pupils. However, too few institutions are actually involved in building this awareness.

The subject discussed in this article is the way in which the teacher builds its awareness teacher, we basically talk about the personal career management. Personal branding is about the practical arrangements by which a teacher builds its own brand which could be “sold” after that to an institution.

More than ever the new technologies enable the creation, development and management of a 'teacher brand' with real and solid competitive chances on educational market.
AN INTERDISCIPLINARY MODEL FOR TEACHING THE TOPIC “RECORDING THE CARDIAC AND VASCULAR SOUND”, USING THE INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARD
Authors: Aneta Buzatu , Stoica Daniela
Published: February 2023

At the moment, humankind faces global problems that demand an integrate vision towards many phenomena that cannot be studied separately, but only by taking their interdependence into account. Many interdisciplinary fields enjoy a great popularity. The interdisciplinary instruction encourages connections among disciplines by helping students build powerful knowledge schema. Interdisciplinary teaching encourages students to integrate their specific knowledge in a domain in the context of a new problem. Modern technology, like the computer and the interactive whiteboard, helps students develop competencies and skills of interdisciplinary thinking. Thus, there is a tight connection between Physics and Anatomy, with a large applicability in the teaching process. As an example, there is a need for knowledge belonging to the Physics domain to understand the functioning of the heart. The present paper intends to emphasize the connection between Physics and Anatomy by applying the notions regarding the sound propagation considering the heart function.Using the interactive whiteboard and an assisted computer experiment, we have succeeded in recording the cardiac and vascular sound. Relying on the performed measurements, we have determined the pulse rate per minute. It is of the utmost importance that students understand how Physics concepts are applied in the medical field and that the therapeutic and diagnostic tools have their origin in the basic principles of Physics. In the making of the teaching aid presented during class lessons, we have taken into consideration the Cognitive Load Theory, and the implications of a Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning. The information was organized in order to minimize the cognitive load and to make sure that the learning is efficient.
NEW WAYS TO PRESENT THE INFORMATION IN THE TEACHING ACTIVITY
Authors: Chicioreanu Teodora , Oproiu Gabriela carmen
Published: February 2023

In the context of an information society with an accelerated dynamics, special attention must be granted to the teacher training, so as to meet the requirements that the new technologies introduce into the teaching activity. The teaching staff training as regards the use of new technologies in the classroom is an immense challenge for them who must, in their turns, adapt to the evolution of technique and technology and acquire new skills and competencies.

Thus, the way the teachers prepare the pupils-students to deal with the changing world, a world completely different from the one the teachers themselves were educated in, becomes extremely important.

In the educational process, the teachers who want to keep themselves updated with the news within their own professional fields cannot stay outside the new WEB 2.0 technologies facilitating the access to information.

In this paper, a comparative study is performed regarding the new ways of delivering the information by using presentations such as PowerPoint – Prezi–Voicethread. Furthermore, the requirements that a presentation must meet in order for it to be successful and have a maximum impact on the audience are also shown.

Prezi is a tool able to easily replace the classical presentations, an application combining the creative thinking with the facilities of modern technology, which leads to interactive and highly customised presentations, structured approximately like a mind map (zoom puzzles).

Voice Thread can integrate comments and other multimedia effects in the presentation, thus creating an original application. It is a suitable medium for the pupils and students who do not have advanced ITC competences, where they can interact on-line to create highly impressing virtual portfolios.

All these facilities, but also the integration of this technology within other web 2.0 technologies; this is what the paper hereafter will be dealing with.
THE INTEGRATION OF CONCEPT MAPS IN THE TEACHING ACTIVITY. SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE APPLICATIONS EXISTING ONLINE DEDICATED TO THE ELABORATION OF CONCEPT MAPS.
Authors: Chicioreanu Teodora , Litoiu Nicoleta
Published: February 2023

The concept maps (cognitive maps; mind mapping) can be defined as mirrors of the thinking, feeling and understanding manner of the one(s) approaching them. They can therefore be used in learning concepts (leading to facilitating the representation of the learning process) and in assessing the knowledge.
Their current use in the teaching activity opens new perspectives to an active and conscious learning process to the detriment of the one based exclusively on memorisation and reproduction.
Attracting students to use such concept maps for fixing, clarifying and assessing the knowledge is challenging for the teaching staff in the technical education system, and not only. Thus, attracting the students leads to a good clarification of the concepts they acquired giving them, at the same time, through these resources, the possibility to verify, strengthen and clarify their knowledge.
This paper sets out the SWOT analyses of the applications designed for elaborating concept maps existing on-line (only the ones the authors use, such as Mind Meister, Gliffy, Mind42, Bubbl.us, XMind, Creately, Mindomo, Think Fold,Mywebspiration, Spinscape,Lucid Charts, Spicy Nodes, Mind Jet Catalyst, Comapping and not ultimately SmartDraw - where create great-looking mind maps, concept maps, flowcharts in minutes), this analysis focusing on the differentiated elements, useful for the teachers and students in the teaching activity. The websites studied and presented in this paper can be used in various fields of activity.
Using this method in the performance assessment leads to conceptualising some programmes for improving, recovering or accelerating the evaluation tests (it practically facilitates the evaluation process).
FREERICE.COM - FREE EDUCATION BASED ON APPEALING LEVEL-BASED ENGLISH TESTS
Authors: Coanca Mariana
Published: February 2023

Our paper deals with the presentation of Freerice.com and its custom database. We also show the impact of the level-based English tests - Freerice.com upon our students during classes. The level-based tests for grammar and vocabulary are very appealing to us and our students: firstly, because Freerice.com provides education for free and offers the teachers the possibility to create a “closed” group for a class, by registering each student so that they have a login username and a password. Secondly, the database contains questions at varying levels of difficulty and adjusts automatically to the student’s level. When the student selects an answer, this information is sent to a server via a regular HTML form. This answer is then processed by the server using the PHP programming language, which then is able to discern if the student’s answer was correct. Grammar and vocabulary tests were highly appreciated by our students because they consider the tests as a challenging, funny and efficient method to improve their English grammar and vocabulary while donating rice (if their answers are correct) and feed as many people as possible all around the world. The major goal of Freerice.com is to turn the questions into a pleasant game, which eventually becomes an entertaining journey in the subtleness of the English language. For this reason, teachers and students become freericers, united by one cause- the fight against hunger. In addition to this aspect, teachers are able to identify the students’ frequent mistakes because there is a tough competition among freericers (students) because they want to reach their goals: learn, learn and donate.
STUDY REGARDING THE USE OF COMPUTER IN ADULTS’ EDUCATION
Authors: Petruta Coman , Ezechil Liliana
Published: February 2023

This paper presents a study having as its purpose the investigation of the trainees’ satisfaction degree regarding the use of computer by adult trainers in the teaching-learning-evaluation process. In the first part, it makes a descriptive analysis of adult trainers’ and trainees’ perceptions on the use of computer in didactic actions. The study goes on by highlighting the existence of significant differences between the perceptions of adult trainers regarding the use of computer in the didactical process and the trainees’ perceptions regarding the acquirement of professional behaviors when adult trainers use computer in the classroom. Eighteen adult trainers and thirty-six trainees involved in continuous training courses organized by the Department of Teachers’ Training within the Pitesti University participated in this study. The following were included in the criteria for the selection of adult trainers: the educational level, the expert knowledge, the pedagogical skill, the quality of the didactical, scientific and research activity, and the run-through training programs in the information and communications technology and computer-based training fields. The interest of such research focused on two aspects, i.e.: one aspect focused on the identification of particular aspects of the computer use in the teaching-learning-evaluation process and on the deep understanding thereof – qualitative research, and a second aspect focused on the identification of general aspects allowing a wider understanding of the phenomon, irrespective of the categories of trainees benefitting from training within the programs promoted by the Department of Teachers’ Training in the Pitesti University; such approach is specific to quantitative research. The research design is a multi-method design, based on distinct methods for collecting qualitative and quantitative data; for this reason, for collecting the research data, semi-structured in-depth interviews based on the focus group method and questionnaires evaluating the acquisition of professional behaviors were used. The results of this study highlight the fact that the use of computer by adult trainers in the didactic activities underlines a series of vulnerabilities in the acquisition of trainees’ professional behaviors.
INNOVATIVE FORMS OF COMPULSORY PRE-EXAM TESTS: STUDY OF STUDENTS’ ACCEPTANCE
Authors: Grosu Corina , Grosu Marta , Grosu Brindusa luciana
Published: February 2023

The present paper introduces a case study concerning the students’ self-evaluation of a new form of pre-exam testing. The study is based on: a) the actual test- an interactive pre-exam quiz (with a graphic interface built in Flash3d) and b) an evaluation questionnaire with 10 closed items and an opened feedback question. The quiz’ questions belong to mathematical analysis, linear algebra and analytical geometry fields and cover the most important subjects from the first semester course in Mathematics. The quiz is intended as a self assessment test and it is not scored. In order to motivate the students and enhance their preparation for the final examination, the level of difficulty of the quiz is medium towards high. The pre-exam quiz’ questions are more complex than regular exercise tests, since in the final examination we verify the acquired knowledge through a similar format. In order to make this new form of preparation attractive for students, a short story was included in the beginning of the quiz allowing an interesting approach to the pre-exam questions. By answering the questions, the students get an insight view of possible applications of the mathematical notions they have learnt about and they are encouraged to search for and provide some more applications. Following the completion of the quiz, the students were given the evaluation form. In this paper we have included the main findings and conclusions obtained from the application of the feed-back questionnaire. The questionnaire is scored and the results justify this new pedagogical approach in the actual learning environment. We also discuss some of the drawbacks of this form of testing as they have appeared from the students’ answers to the feedback question.