Evaluation of Technical Education by Using a Modern Structured MOODLE Laboratory Course, in Relation to Recent Data

E-learning platforms support education systems worldwide, transferring theoretical knowledge as well as soft skills. In the present study high-school pupils’, and adult students’ opinions were evaluated through a modern structured MOODLE interactive course, designed for the needs of the laboratory course “Automotive Systems”. The study concerns Greek secondary vocational education pupils aged 18 and vocational training adult students aged 20 to 50 years. The multistage, equal size simple random cluster sample was used as a sampling method. Pupils and adult students of each cluster completed structured 10-question questionnaires both before and after attending the course. A total of 120 questionnaires were collected. In general, our findings disclosed that the majority of pupils and adult students had significantly improved their knowledge and skills from using MOODLE. They reported strengthening conventional teaching, using the new MOODLE technology. The satisfaction indices improved quite, with the differences in their mean values being statistically significant.

Growth Inhibition of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis from Various Types of Honey

Honey has long been considered a wound treatment used to keep cuts and other epidermal injuries clean. This study tested that claim by comparing manuka honey used in medicine today, local unprocessed honey taken straight from a hive, and pasteurized honey found at a store, on strains of E. coli and S. epidermidis. The study evaluated the effects these honeys had on bacterial growth to determine which had the greatest inhibition of bacterial growth. To determine this, plates streaked with strains of E. coli or S. epidermidis bacteria and agar wells filled with one of the honeys were incubated and subsequently the diameter of the zone of inhibition was measured. After 20 trials using each honey and bacteria type, manuka and unprocessed were shown to have a statistically significant advantage over the pasteurized honey at inhibiting the growth of E. coli and S. epidermidis, though it was variable whether manuka had an advantage over the unprocessed honey.

What Are the Current and Developing Treatments for Cotard’s Syndrome, Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, and Catatonic Schizophrenia?

Purpose: Cotard’s syndrome, Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, and Catatonia are all rare psychiatric disorders that have relatively little research regarding their treatments. The aim of this article is to highlight any gaps in knowledge regarding represented demographics in these treatment studies, and to discuss the current and upcoming treatment options. Background: This literature review explores under-researched psychiatric conditions: Cotard’s syndrome, Alice in Wonderland syndrome, and Catatonic Schizophrenia. Understanding psychiatric disorders requires basic knowledge of brain anatomy. These conditions are often result of or associated with neurological issues, such as migraines or tumors. The brain has eight lobes, two of four kinds: frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes, which all govern different functions and abilities. Frontal lobes control judgment, decision-making, personality traits, and fine motor movements. Parietal lobes interpret pain and temperature, occipital lobes handle visual stimuli, and temporal lobes enable hearing. The pre-frontal cortex is associated with high intelligence, psychotic traits, and psychosis. The Broca’s Area in the frontal lobes controls expressive language. These areas and divisions of the brain contribute to the complexity of the psychiatric disorders discussed in this review. Introduction: Cotard’s syndrome is a psychiatric disorder characterized by delusions of being dead or not having certain limbs or organs. It is believed that there is a disconnect between their fusiform face area and the amygdala, causing a lack of familiarity between one’s mind and body. Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS) is another psychiatric disorder which is characterized by visual hallucinations, such as distorted perceptions of color, size, distance, and speed. The most common symptoms include micropsia and macropsia. Catatonia/Catatonic Schizophrenia is an uncommon type of schizophrenia. This type of schizophrenia is characterized by motor rigidity, verbal rigidity, the flat effect, psychomotor retardation, waxy flexibility, and overall negative symptoms. Thus, these people may come off as emotionally detached, and able to stay frozen in odd positions for periods on end. Treatments and Results: Cotard’s syndrome seemed to be most effectively treated by ECT (electroconvulsive therapy). Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS) had the highest positive responses to treatment by Valproate (an anti-epileptic drug), as well as intervention to treat the associated neurological conditions they had. Catatonia/Catatonic Schizophrenia seemed to be most effectively treated with a combination of benzodiazepines and ECT. Discussion and Demographics: In all 3 disorders, the Latino and African communities were underrepresented. There also seemed to be an underrepresentation of men in Cotard’s syndrome, and of women in Alice in Wonderland Syndrome. Japan and India seemed to have the highest density of treatment studies in all 3 disorders.

NADPH oxidase 4(NOX4)as a biomarker and therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases

Diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases are defined by inflammation and the damage neurons undergo due to oxidative stress. A primary reactive oxygen species contributor in the central nervous system, NADPH oxidase 4, is viewed as a potential therapeutic touchstone and indicative marker for these ailments. This in-depth review brings to light distinct features of NADPH oxidase 4, responsible for generating superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, emphasizing its pivotal role in activating glial cells, inciting inflammation, and disturbing neuronal functions. Significantly, malfunctioning astrocytes, forming the majority in the central nervous system, play a part in advancing neurodegenerative diseases, due to their reactive oxygen species and inflammatory factor secretion. Our study reveals that aiming at NADPH oxidase 4 within astrocytes could be a viable treatment pathway to reduce oxidative damage and halt neurodegenerative processes. Adjusting NADPH oxidase 4 activity might influence the neuroinflammatory cytokine levels, including myeloperoxidase and osteopontin, offering better prospects for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. This review sheds light on the role of NADPH oxidase 4 in neural degeneration, emphasizing its drug target potential, and paving the path for novel treatment approaches to combat these severe conditions.

Subacute Toxicological Analysis of Excessive <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>Administration in Mice

We performed subacute toxicological analysis of mice that received repeated oral administration of excess Staphylococcus epidermidis every day for 4 weeks. No mouse died and no abnormalities of specific internal organs were induced by excessive S. epidermidis administration. Furthermore, acute toxicity analysis following oral and intraperitoneal administration of excess S. epidermidis showed no toxicity in the test mice.

The role of exosomes in adult neurogenesis:implications for neurodegenerative diseases

Exosomes are cup-shaped extracellular vesicles with a lipid bilayer that is approximately 30 to 200 nm in thickness.Exosomes are widely distributed in a range of body fluids,including urine,blood,milk,and saliva.Exosomes exert biological function by transporting factors between different cells and by regulating biological pathways in recipient cells.As an important form of intercellular communication,exosomes are increasingly being investigated due to their ability to transfer bioactive molecules such as lipids,proteins,mRNAs,and microRNAs between cells,and because they can regulate physiological and pathological processes in the central nervous system.Adult neurogenesis is a multistage process by which new neurons are generated and migrate to be integrated into existing neuronal circuits.In the adult brain,neurogenesis is mainly localized in two specialized niches:the subventricular zone adjacent to the lateral ventricles and the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus.An increasing body of evidence indicates that adult neurogenesis is tightly controlled by environmental conditions with the niches.In recent studies,exosomes released from different sources of cells were shown to play an active role in regulating neurogenesis both in vitro and in vivo,thereby participating in the progression of neurodegenerative disorders in patients and in various disease models.Here,we provide a state-of-the-art synopsis of existing research that aimed to identify the diverse components of exosome cargoes and elucidate the therapeutic potential of exosomal contents in the regulation of neurogenesis in several neurodegenerative diseases.We emphasize that exosomal cargoes could serve as a potential biomarker to monitor functional neurogenesis in adults.In addition,exosomes can also be considered as a novel therapeutic approach to treat various neurodegenerative disorders by improving endogenous neurogenesis to mitigate neuronal loss in the central nervous system.

Effects of a Cocktail Supplement of Ginkgo Biloba and Acai Extract on Cognitive Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms, including cognitive impairment. Current treatments often involve synthetic drugs with significant side effects and potential for dependency. This study investigates the effects of a natural supplement combination of Ginkgo Biloba and Acai Extract on cognitive symptoms in a 77-year-old male with PD. The participant underwent a three-month supplementation regimen, with cognitive function assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test before and after the intervention. The results indicated an improvement in cognitive scores, suggesting that the combination of Ginkgo Biloba and Acai Extract may offer a promising alternative or adjunct to conventional PD treatments. This study highlights the potential of natural supplements in managing PD symptoms and calls for further research with larger sample sizes to confirm these findings. Human data was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki by the Roxbury District IRB Board (IRB Number: IRB00011767).

Overexpression of heme oxygenase-1 protects smooth muscle cells against oxidative injury and inhibits cell proliferation

To investigate whether the expression of exogenous heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene within vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) could protect the cells from free radical attack and inhibit cell proliferation, we established an in vitro transfection of human HO-1 gene into rat VSMC mediated by a retroviral vector. The results showed that the profound expression of HO-1 protein as well as HO activity was 1.8- and 2.0-fold increased respectively in the transfected cells compared to the non-transfected ones. The treatment of VSMC with different concentrations of H2O2 led to the remarkable cell damage as indicated by survival rate and LDH leakage. However, the resistance of the HO-1 transfected VSMC against H2O2 was significantly raised. This protective effect was dramatically diminished when the transfected VSMC were pretreated with ZnPP-IX, a specific inhibitor of HO, for 24 h. In addition, we found that the growth potential of the transfected cells was significantly inhibited directly by increased activity of HO-1, and this effect might be related to decreased phosphorylation of MAPK. These results suggest that the overexpression of introduced hHO-1 is potentially able to reduce the risk factors of atherosclerosis, partially due to its cellular protection against oxidative injury and to its inhibitory effect on cellular proliferation.

The “Dead Universe” Theory: Natural Separation of Galaxies Driven by the Remnants of a Supermassive Dead Universe

This article explores the dead universe theory as a novel interpretation for the origin and evolution of the universe, suggesting that our cosmos may have originated from the remnants of a preceding universe. This perspective challenges the conventional Big Bang theory, particularly concerning dark matter, the expansion of the universe, and the interpretation of phenomena such as gravitational waves.

The Collaboratory for the Study of Earthquake Predictability in China:Experiment Design and Preliminary Results of CSEP2.0

Since the inaugural international collaboration under the framework of the Collaboratory for the Study of Earthquake Predictability(CSEP)in 2007,numerous forecast models have been developed and operated for earthquake forecasting experiments across CSEP testing centers(Schorlemmer et al.,2018).Over more than a decade,efforts to compare forecasts with observed earthquakes using numerous statistical test methods and insights into earthquake predictability,which have become a highlight of the CSEP platform.

Loose Body in the Knee Joint: A Case Report

Background: Loose bodies (LBs) within the knee joint are commonly encountered during clinical practice and are frequently observed during knee arthroscopy. The primary treatment involves the removal of loose bodies;however, their complete eradication is often challenging and may not address underlying diseases, leading to persistent symptoms and the risk of new loose body formation. Aim: This case report aims to present the findings and surgical management of a 52-year-old male with an unusually large osseous loose body in the knee joint and associated pathologies. Case Presentation: The patient, a 52-year-old male, experienced recurrent episodes of severe, sudden, and painful locking of the knee joint, leading to difficulties moving. A plain MRI study was conducted to evaluate the condition of the knee joint, which revealed various degenerative changes and the presence of a loose body. Subsequently, an arthroscopic examination was performed under general anesthesia, uncovering the presence of an abnormally large loose body, as well as other pathologies including chondropathy, meniscal degeneration, and Baker’s cyst. Conclusion: Loose bodies (LBs) in the knee joint pose significant challenges and may lead to debilitating symptoms. Timely diagnosis and appropriate surgical intervention are crucial for symptom relief and the prevention of further joint damage as arthroscopic excision. Comprehensive imaging has a vital role in guiding treatment decisions and optimizing patient outcomes. In this case, the removal of the loose body improved patient outcomes and helped prevent potential joint complications.

Therapeutic advances in neural regeneration for Huntington’s disease

Huntington’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion mutation of a cytosine-adenine-guanine triplet in the exon 1 of the HTT gene which is responsible for the production of the huntingtin (Htt) protein. In physiological conditions, Htt is involved in many cellular processes such as cell signaling, transcriptional regulation, energy metabolism regulation, DNA maintenance, axonal trafficking, and antiapoptotic activity. When the genetic alteration is present, the production of a mutant version of Htt (mHtt) occurs, which is characterized by a plethora of pathogenic activities that, finally, lead to cell death. Among all the cells in which mHtt exerts its dangerous activity, the GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons seem to be the most affected by the mHtt-induced excitotoxicity both in the cortex and in the striatum. However, as the neurodegeneration proceeds ahead the neuronal loss grows also in other brain areas such as the cerebellum, hypothalamus, thalamus, subthalamic nucleus, globus pallidus, and substantia nigra, determining the variety of symptoms that characterize Huntington’s disease. From a clinical point of view, Huntington’s disease is characterized by a wide spectrum of symptoms spanning from motor impairment to cognitive disorders and dementia. Huntington’s disease shows a prevalence of around 3.92 cases every 100,000 worldwide and an incidence of 0.48 new cases every 100,000/year. To date, there is no available cure for Huntington’s disease. Several treatments have been developed so far, aiming to reduce the severity of one or more symptoms to slow down the inexorable decline caused by the disease. In this context, the search for reliable strategies to target the different aspects of Huntington’s disease become of the utmost interest. In recent years, a variety of studies demonstrated the detrimental role of neuronal loss in Huntington’s disease condition highlighting how the replacement of lost cells would be a reasonable strategy to overcome the neurodegeneration. In this view, numerous have been the attempts in several preclinical models of Huntington’s disease to evaluate the feasibility of invasive and non-invasive approaches. Thus, the aim of this review is to offer an overview of the most appealing approaches spanning from stem cell-based cell therapy to extracellular vesicles such as exosomes in light of promoting neurogenesis, discussing the results obtained so far, their limits and the future perspectives regarding the neural regeneration in the context of Huntington’s disease.

Polysurfacic Tori or Kideas Inspired by the Möbius Strip Topology

Polysurfacic tori or kideas are three-dimensional objects formed by rotating a regular polygon around a central axis. These toric shapes are referred to as “polysurfacic” because their characteristics, such as the number of sides or surfaces separated by edges, can vary in a non-trivial manner depending on the degree of twisting during the revolution. We use the term “Kideas” to specifically denote these polysurfacic tori, and we represent the number of sides (referred to as “facets”) of the original polygon followed by a point, while the number of facets from which the torus is twisted during its revolution is indicated. We then explore the use of concave regular polygons to generate Kideas. We finally give acceleration for the algorithm for calculating the set of prime numbers.

α-Synuclein pathology from the body to the brain:so many seeds so close to the central soil

α-Synuclein is a protein that mainly exists in the presynaptic terminals.Abnormal folding and accumulation of α-synuclein are found in several neurodegenerative diseases,including Parkinson’s disease.Aggregated and highly phospho rylated a-synuclein constitutes the main component of Lewy bodies in the brain,the pathological hallmark of Parkinson s disease.For decades,much attention has been focused on the accumulation of α-synuclein in the brain parenchyma rather than considering Parkinson s disease as a systemic disease.Recent evidence demonstrates that,at least in some patients,the initial α-synuclein pathology originates in the peripheral organs and spreads to the brain.Injection of α-synuclein preformed fibrils into the gastrointestinal tra ct trigge rs the gutto-brain propagation of α-synuclein pathology.However,whether α-synuclein pathology can occur spontaneously in peripheral organs independent of exogenous α-synuclein preformed fibrils or pathological α-synuclein leakage from the central nervous system remains under investigation.In this review,we aimed to summarize the role of peripheral α-synuclein pathology in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease.We also discuss the pathways by which α-synuclein pathology spreads from the body to the brain.

Origin of Magnetic Fields of Stellar Objects in the Universe Based on the 5D Projection Theory

Beginning with a 5D homogeneous universe [1], we have provided a plausible explanation of the self-rotation phenomenon of stellar objects previously with illustration of large number of star samples [2], via a 5D-4D projection. The origin of such rotation is the balance of the angular momenta of stars and that of positive and negative charged e-trino pairs, within a 3D &otimes;1D?void of the stellar object, the existence of which is based on conservation/parity laws in physics if one starts with homogeneous 5D universe. While the in-phase e-trino pairs are proposed to be responsible for the generation of angular momentum, the anti-phase but oppositely charge pairs necessarily produce currents. In the 5D to 4D projection, one space variable in the 5D manifold was compacted to zero in most other 5D theories (including theories of Kaluza-Klein and Einstein [3] [4]). We have demonstrated, using the Fermat’s Last Theorem [5], that for validity of gauge invariance at the 4D-5D boundary, the 4th space variable in the 5D manifold is mapped into two current rings at both magnetic poles as required by Perelman entropy mapping;these loops are the origin of the dipolar magnetic field. One conclusion we draw is that there is no gravitational singularity, and hence no black holes in the universe, a result strongly supported by the recent discovery of many stars with masses well greater than 100 solar mass [6] [7] [8], without trace of phenomena observed (such as strong gamma and X ray emissions), which are supposed to be associated with black holes. We analyze the properties of such loop currents on the 4D-5D boundary, where Maxwell equations are valid. We derive explicit expressions for the dipolar fields over the whole temperature range. We then compare our prediction with measured surface magnetic fields of many stars. Since there is coupling in distribution between the in-phase and anti-phase pairs of e-trinos, the generated mag-netic field is directly related to the angular momentum, leading to the result that the magnetic field can be expressible in terms of only the mechanical variables (mass M, radius R, rotation period P)of a star, as if Maxwell equations are “hidden”. An explanation for the occurrence of this “un-expected result” is provided in Section (7.6). Therefore we provide satisfactory answers to a number of “mysteries” of magnetism in astrophysics such as the “Magnetic Bode’s Relation/Law” [9] and the experimental finding that B-P graph in the log-log plot is linear. Moreover, we have developed a new method for studying the relations among the data (M, R, P) during stellar evolution. Ten groups of stellar objects, effectively over 2000 samples are used in various parts of the analysis. We also explain the emergence of huge magnetic field in very old stars like White Dwarfs in terms of formation of 2D Semion state on stellar surface and release of magnetic flux as magnetic storms upon changing the 2D state back to 3D structure. Moreover, we provide an explanation, on the ground of the 5D theory, for the detection of extremely weak fields in Venus and Mars and the asymmetric distribution of magnetic field on the Martian surface. We predict the equatorial fields B of the newly discovered Trappist-1 star and the 6 nearest planets. The log B?&minus;?log P graph for the 6 planets is linear and they satisfy the Magnetic Bode’s relation. Based on the above analysis, we have discovered several new laws of stellar magnetism, which are summarized in Section (7.6).

Effects of carbon sources and temperature on the formation and structural characteristics of food-related Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms

Biofilms are a constant concern in the food industry;understanding the effect of environmental conditions on biofilm formation is essential to develop effective control strategies.Therefore,this study was conducted to investigate biofilms formation by Staphylococcus epidermidis under various conditions.Biofilms were cultured in nutrient broth containing different carbon source concentrations(0–10 mg/mL)on polystyrene surfaces for 32 h of incubation at 37℃or 55℃,with quantification and enumeration at 8,16,24 and 32 h.S.epidermidis developed biofilms under all tested conditions;achieved the highest yield of biofilm biomass at 2.5 mg/mL for all carbon sources at 37℃.The highest efficiency of extracellular polymeric substance(EPS)molecule production occurred under glucose availability in the growth environment,with a higher yield of biomass and a significantly smaller number of metabolically active cells than under other tested conditions.A condensed ball-shaped structure was observed under the lactose condition.Meanwhile,biofilms in the presence of maltose showed mainly opaque thick rich colonies,while a compact multilayered-shaped structure was exhibited under both glucose and sucrose conditions.These results contribute to a better understanding of the biofilm formation by S.epidermidis in order to reduce contamination and recontamination in the food industry.

Depression of biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance by sarA disruption in Staphylococcus epidermidis

AIM： To study the effects of disruption of sarA gene on biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus epidermidis （ S. epiderrnidis）. METHODS： In order to disrupt sarA gene, the double- crossover homologous recombination was applied in S. epiderrnidis RP62A, and tetracycline resistance gene （tet） was used as the selective marker which was amplified by PCR from the pBR322 and inserted into the locus between sarA upstream and downstream, resulting in pBT2ΔsarA. By electroporation, the plasmid pBT2ΔsarA was transformed into S. epiderrnidis. Gene transcription was detected by real-time reverse transcription-PCR （RT-PCR）. Determination of biofilm was performed in 96-well flat-bottomed culture plates, and antibiotic resistance was analyzed with test tube culture by spectrophotometry at 570 nm respectively. RESULTS： A sarA disrupted strain named S. epiderrnidis RP62AΔsarA was constructed, which was completely defective in biofilm formation, while the sarA complement strain RP62AΔsarA （pHPS9sarA） restored the biofilm formation phenotype. Additionally, the knockout of sarA resulted in decreased erythromycin and kanamycin resistance of S. epiderrnidis RP62A. Compared to the original strain, S. epiderrnidis RP62AΔsarA had an increase of the sensitivity to erythromycin at 200-400 μg/mL and kanamycin at 200-800 μg/mL respectively. CONCLUSION： The knockout of sarA can result in the defect in biofilm formation and the decreased erythromycin and kanamycin resistance in S. epiderrnidis RP62A.

Antisense therapy:a potential breakthrough in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of disorders characterized by the progressive degeneration of neurons in the central or peripheral nervous system.Currently,there is no cure for neurodegenerative diseases and this means a heavy burden for patients and the health system worldwide.Therefore,it is necessary to find new therapeutic approaches,and antisense therapies offer this possibility,having the great advantage of not modifying cellular genome and potentially being safer.Many preclinical and clinical studies aim to test the safety and effectiveness of antisense therapies in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.The objective of this review is to summarize the recent advances in the development of these new technologies to treat the most common neurodegenerative diseases,with a focus on those antisense therapies that have already received the approval of the U.S.Food and Drug Administration.

Riemann Hypothesis, Catholic Information and Potential of Events with New Techniques for Financial and Other Applications

In this research we are going to define two new concepts: a) “The Potential of Events” (EP) and b) “The Catholic Information” (CI). The term CI derives from the ancient Greek language and declares all the Catholic (general) Logical Propositions () which will true for every element of a set A. We will study the Riemann Hypothesis in two stages: a) By using the EP we will prove that the distribution of events e (even) and o (odd) of Square Free Numbers (SFN) on the axis Ax(N) of naturals is Heads-Tails (H-T) type. b) By using the CI we will explain the way that the distribution of prime numbers can be correlated with the non-trivial zeros of the function ζ(s) of Riemann. The Introduction and the Chapter 2 are necessary for understanding the solution. In the Chapter 3 we will present a simple method of forecasting in many very useful applications (e.g. financial, technological, medical, social, etc) developing a generalization of this new, proven here, theory which we finally apply to the solution of RH. The following Introduction as well the Results with the Discussion at the end shed light about the possibility of the proof of all the above. The article consists of 9 chapters that are numbered by 1, 2, …, 9.

Novel insights into D-Pinitol based therapies:a link between tau hyperphosphorylation and insulin resistance

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the amyloid accumulation in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.The pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease is mainly mediated by the phosphorylation and aggregation of tau protein.Among the multiple causes of tau hyperphosphorylation,brain insulin resistance has generated much attention,and inositols as insulin sensitizers,are currently considered candidates for drug development.The present narrative review revises the interactions between these three elements:Alzheimer’s disease-tau-inositols,which can eventually identify targets for new disease modifiers capable of bringing hope to the millions of people affected by this devastating disease.