220861 research outputs found
Sort by
Combining face-to-face laboratory sessions and a computer simulation effectively teaches gene editing and DNA sequencing to undergraduate genetics students
No full textInnovative approaches to teaching genetics are essential for improving student engagement and comprehension in this challenging field. Laboratory-based instruction enhances engagement with the subject while fostering the development of practical competencies and deepening comprehension of theoretical concepts. However, constraints on time and financial resources limit the feasibility of conducting extended laboratory sessions that incorporate cutting-edge genetic techniques. This study evaluated a hybrid teaching method that combined face-to-face (F-2-F) laboratory sessions with an online simulation to instruct undergraduates on gene editing and DNA sequencing. A Unity-based simulation was developed to complement traditional F-2-F laboratory sessions, allowing students to practice DNA sequencing techniques in a low-stakes environment. The simulation was integrated into a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) focused on CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in yeast. Student performance, engagement, and perceptions were assessed through laboratory assignments, access logs, and surveys. Students who engaged with the simulation prior to F-2-F sessions and those who engaged with the simulation over multiple days performed significantly better in assessments. Survey results indicated that most students found the simulation realistic and relevant and reported enhanced learning of DNA sequencing principles. Student confidence in DNA sequencing knowledge increased significantly after using the simulation. Student feedback highlighted benefits such as improved procedural understanding, stress reduction, and increased preparedness for F-2-F sessions. This approach addresses logistical challenges of traditional laboratory education while providing students with authentic, repeatable experiences in complex techniques. Our findings demonstrate the potential of integrating simulations with F-2-F instruction to enhance undergraduate education in genetics and molecular biology
Measuring the determinants of women's empowerment in agricultural index in Bangladesh: application of the structural equation modeling approach
No full textThe study investigates the determinants of women's empowerment utilizing data from the Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey 2018, specifically through the construction of the Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index. Using structural equation modeling, it assesses how various indicators such as decision-making, freedom of mobility, access to agricultural extension services, group membership, and birth control decisions contribute to women's empowerment outcomes. This index is based on decision-making regarding production, resources, income, leadership, time use, and gender parity sub-index. The study employs structural equation modeling to explore the association among key indicators of women's empowerment, including decision-making, freedom of mobility, access to agricultural extension services, group membership, and birth control decisions. Our findings reveal that access to agricultural extension services, freedom of mobility, group membership, birth control decisions, and decision-making all exert significant direct effects on women's empowerment in Bangladesh. The Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index itself is also significantly associated with these indicators, highlighting its role as a comprehensive measure. These results suggest that agricultural extension services can serve as a critical pathway to enhancing women's empowerment. The research provides valuable insights for policymakers, donor agencies, academics, and extension workers to effectively allocate resources aimed at advancing women's empowerment in developing countries like Bangladesh
Referrals to allied health professionals for people with dementia: an analysis of general practitioner data from two Australian primary health networks
No full textData source: supplementary files, https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2025-003470ObjectiveTo examine general practitioners' (GPs) referral patterns to allied health services for people with dementia compared with those without dementia across two large Australian Primary Health Networks (PHNs).DesignA retrospective cohort study using routinely collected general practice data. Logistic regression was used to compare odds of allied health referrals, adjusting for age, sex and socioeconomic status.SettingDe-identified patient and episode activity data from 537 GP practices across two PHNs in Australia between 2018 and 2023.ParticipantsData from 1 153 304 patients and 28 667 517 GP episodes of care were analysed. After merging records, 693 328 unique patients were identified, including 16 610 patients with dementia. Subcohorts included patients with dementia, stroke, Parkinson's disease and combinations of these conditions.ResultsThe dementia cohort (n=16 610) had a similar overall allied health referral rate (36.1%) to the control cohort (n=48 977) (35.4%). Patients with dementia only were significantly less likely to receive any allied health referral compared with those with stroke (adjusted OR (aOR) 0.76, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.80; pConclusionDespite strong evidence supporting allied health interventions for dementia, referral rates remain comparatively low. Enhancing GP referral resources and education, integrating dementia-specific care pathways and implementing supportive policy changes are needed to improve access and equity in dementia care
Networked Learning
No full textNetworked Learning is an area of research focusing on understanding the qualities, opportunities, and challenges that connections between people and technology bring to learning and knowledge development. Networked Learning is anchored in a strong research tradition and community with an associated conference and book series. Theoretically, networked learning researchers and practitioners draw from multiple theoretical sources such as critical pedagogy, socio-cultural and socio-material theories, as well as postdigital theories. Methodologically, it is a field leaning broadly towards qualitative and action-oriented methodologies. Above all, it is an ever-evolving research community that seeks to develop and continuously challenge the understanding of Networked Learning
Does Genetic Background Affect Susceptibility to Alcohol-Induced Heart Disease?
No full textBrief Report.No abstract is availableSamuel J. Tu, Emma M. Rath, Eleni Giannoulatou, Diane Fatkin, Christopher X. Won
Effects of cerebellar non-invasive brain stimulation on balance and gait performance in individuals with stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textINTRODUCTION: Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is widely used for motor recovery after stroke. Recent studies have investigated the efficacy of cerebellar NIBS (cNIBS) in enhancing lower limb functional recovery in individuals with stroke. Thus, this study aims to investigate the effect of cNIBS on balance and gait recovery in individuals with stroke. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A systematic literature search was conducted in CINAHL, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, PsyclNFO, PubMed, and Scopus from inception to April 29, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effects of cNIBS on gait or balance performance in individuals with stroke were included. Studies involving participants with cerebellar or brainstem stroke were excluded. Two researchers independently conducted study selection and data extraction and examined the methodological quality of the included RCTs and the certainty of evidence. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate the between-group mean difference (MD) or standardized MD (SMD) based on pre-post changes along with the 95% confidence interval (CI). EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Fourteen RCTs involving 382 participants were included. The methodological quality of the included studies ranged from fair to excellent. Compared with sham conditions, cNIBS significantly improved balance, as measured using the Berg Balance Scale (MD=4.17, 95% CI=2.28-6.05, P<0.01, low certainty of evidence); walking speed, as assessed using the 10-m walk test and 25-Feet Walk Test (SMD=-0.36, 95% CI=-0.68 to-0.03, P=0.03, moderate certainty of evidence); and functional mobility, as measured using the Timed Up and Go test (MD:-3.34, 95% CI=-5.14 to-1.54, P<0.01, low certainty of evidence). CONCLUSIONS: With low-to-moderate certainty, the evidence indicates that cNIBS, including tDCS and TMS, can improve balance in individuals with stroke. cNIBS is also a promising approach to facilitate gait and functional mobility in stroke survivors. Future studies should determine optimal stimulation protocols and elucidate the mechanisms underlying the treatment effects
The Influence of Drum Operating Parameters on Granulation and Product Attributes
No full textGranulation is a size enlargement process that involves the movement of feed within the granulator (e.g., drum) to produce granules of desirable attributes for the subsequent processes. To produce good quality granules, the right operating parameters need to be tested, optimised, and benchmarked for future granulation test works or potential scale-up for pilot test works. Thus, in this paper, the effects of feed residence time (FRT), pre-wetting moisture content (PWMC), mixing and granulation moisture content (GMC), drum volume loading (DVL), and rotational speed (DOS) on the granulation of iron ore sinter feed blends (SFBs) containing a high content of magnetite concentrate were studied by using a rotary drum granulator. The resultant granules were characterised by bed permeability, particle binding strength, bulk density, porosity, and size distribution. From the results, pre-wetting the SFB with 80% of the GMC for 2 min mixing of the feed generated better results. The batch-wise drum loading of 4 and 12% at a 15 rpm drum speed produced granules of optimum pre-ignition bed permeability, strength, and uniform size distribution. Although the higher drum speeds (e.g., 40 rpm) showed a higher pre-ignition bed permeability of about 54 JPU due to the production of coarse size granules, the granules were weak, hence showed a higher bed shrinkage of 2.2 mm. Additionally, granulation kinetics studies indicated 5–7 min of granulation to be the optimum residence time. It was established that the optimum granulation moisture content strongly depended on the nature of SFBs, more importantly, the mineralogy and particle size distribution. Granulation moisture content increased with increasing magnetite concentrate levels in the SFBs. These established optimum drum operating parameters could be applied for the granulation of SFBs containing higher levels of magnetite concentrate, as it is essential to operate the drum at the right operating conditions when there is a significant variation in feed mineralogy and particle size distribution.</jats:p
A Method for the Evaluation of Crack Tip Opening Loads Based on Strip Yield Modeling of a Propagating Crack
No full textBased on the strip yield model for propagating cracks, the current paper proposes a new method for the evaluation of crack tip opening loads. It is based on the theoretical analysis of shapes of the compliance offset curves for various applied stress levels and R ratios, which indicates that the inflection point of the curve is a good approximation of the initiation of the crack tip opening. The method avoids uncertainties and drawbacks associated with the selection of empirical thresholds or criteria to identify the value of the opening load, which is often utilized to calculate the effective stress intensity factor range or fatigue crack driving force. Careful experimental studies also confirm the ability of this proposed method to negate the R ratio effect on fatigue crack growth rates for a wide range of loading conditions.Aditya Khanna, James Vidler, James Hughes, Ching Tai Ng, Andrei Kotouso
Why and when servant leadership spurs followers to speak up: a conservation of resources perspective
No full textServant leadership has been found to motivate followers to express constructive voice, but why is this the case? Studies so far have identified a ‘can do’ mechanism that enables followers to speak up and a ‘reason to’ mechanism that promote their willingness to do so. Nevertheless, these mechanisms have not considered the role of servant leadership in energizing both leaders and followers, which facilitates followers' constructive voice through an ‘energized to’ mechanism. This study aims to unpack the ‘energized to’ mechanism to understand how and when servant leadership can motivate followers' constructive voice. Drawing from conservation of resources theory, we propose that servant leadership can contribute to both leaders' and followers' energy, particularly among leaders with higher self-regulation ability. In turn, elevated energy levels in leaders and followers will promote followers' constructive voice. To test these hypotheses, we conducted a time-lagged supervisor–subordinate matched survey. Results show that servant leadership increases both leaders and followers' energy and then followers' constructive voice, but this effect is observed only among leaders with high self-regulation ability. This research offers new insights into how and when servant leadership not only energizes followers but also benefits the leaders themselves
Machine-Learning Approach to Increase the Potency and Overcome the Hemolytic Toxicity of Gramicidin S
No full textAntibiotic resistance is a global health crisis, with multidrug-resistant pathogens like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) demanding next-generation therapeutics. Tackling this silent pandemic requires innovative strategies beyond traditional drug discovery. We present a machine-learning (ML)- driven computational pipeline for redesigning FDA-approved drugs, applied here to the cyclic antibiotic gramicidin S, historically limited to topical use due to hemolytic toxicity. Leveraging a proprietary analogue data set, the model identified key molecular descriptors linked to potency and safety, yielding several potent, nontoxic candidates. Peptide 2 expanded the therapeutic window 42-fold, eliminating hemolysis at bactericidal doses. Peptide 9 achieved a significant 2-fold increase in potency against MRSA (MIC: 2 μg/mL) and improved the therapeutic index 6-fold. These analogues represent the most significant enhancement to the safety and efficacy of gramicidin S to date, enabling potential systemic MRSA treatment. Our ML-guided framework offers a powerful, generalizable platform for optimizing other FDA-approved drugs across therapeutic areas.John T. Kalyvas, Yifei Wang, John R. Horsley, and Andrew D. Abel