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Engaging students as pedagogical partners in teaching and learning in higher education is becoming increasingly prevalent. However, developing and sustaining such partnerships can be challenging. The present study highlights the potential of utilizing work-integrated learning (WIL) students as partners. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 university instructors to explore how access to an online learning assistant (OLA) program helped them navigate remote instruction challenges. The OLA program was a novel WIL initiative providing co-operative (co-op) education students with full-time, paid work to assist instructors transitioning to remote learning. Unexpectedly, our findings demonstrate that pedagogical partnerships emerged in the context of this WIL program, leading to teaching and learning benefits. Online learning assistants were able to assist instructors with many of the difficulties they faced, although some program challenges also emerged. Our findings suggest that full-time, paid co-op student positions offer a unique program structure that make them ideal for the development and ongoing success of pedagogical partnerships.

Abstract Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are a biologically active group of chemicals with a wide range of different applications. Due to their strong antibacterial properties and broad spectrum of activity, they are commonly used as ingredients in antiseptics and disinfectants. In recent years, the spread of bacterial resistance to QACs, exacerbated by the spread of infectious diseases, has seriously threatened public health and endangered human lives. Recent trends in this field have suggested the development of a new generation of QACs, in parallel with the study of bacterial resistance mechanisms. In this work, we present a new series of quaternary 3-substituted quinuclidine compounds that exhibit potent activity across clinically relevant bacterial strains. Most of the derivatives had minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in the low single-digit micromolar range. Notably, QApCl and QApBr were selected for further investigation due to their strong antibacterial activity and low toxicity to human cells along with their minimal potential to induce bacterial resistance. These compounds were also able to inhibit the formation of bacterial biofilms more effectively than commercial standard, eradicating the bacterial population within just 15 min of treatment. The candidates employ a membranolytic mode of action, which, in combination with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), destabilizes the bacterial membrane. This treatment results in a loss of cell volume and alterations in surface morphology, ultimately leading to bacterial cell death. The prominent antibacterial potential of quaternary 3-aminoquinuclidines, as exemplified by QApCl and QApBr, paves the way for new trends in the development of novel generation of QACs.

Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) and Intelligent Computer-Assisted Language Assessment (ICALA) are transforming the educational landscape by radically changing how lessons are taught and students are evaluated. As the masterminds behind the curriculum, it is critical to consider the emotional and mental health of teachers who applied ICALA as part of their language instruction. To this end, this study’s primary objective was to examine the connections between ICALA, teacher immunity, reflective teaching, job satisfaction, and l2-teacher grit. To achieve this goal, 221 English as a foreign language (EFL) university teachers from Afghanistan participated in the current research. The research outcomes identified and quantified the influences of teacher immunity and reflective teaching on job satisfaction and L2 teacher grit by data screening utilizing confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM). According to the results, TI and RT are vital in implementing AI into language assessment by maintaining an uninterrupted JS and L2TG. The study’s ramifications are further elaborated upon.

Sea fennel ( Crithmum maritimum L.) is an edible halophytic species rich in various valuable phytochemicals, and has accordingly, been used in traditional medicine and nutrition since ancient times. The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition of sea fennel flowers from three regionally (ecologically) different locations on the Croatian Adriatic coast (Pag, Korčula, Cavtat). The profiles of essential oils (EOs), fatty acids (FAs), tocopherols, and phenolic compounds (total phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins) as well as associated antioxidant capacity were analysed. The flowers collected at the northernmost site had the lowest contents of total phenolic compounds, limonene in the EO and unsaturated FAs, but the highest content of α-tocopherol, one of the best-known plant lipophilic antioxidants. On the other hand, the flowers from Korčula and Cavtat contained high amounts of phenolics, especially chlorogenic acid (7.99 and 13.27 mg/g dry plant matter, respectively), resulting in high antioxidant activity of the samples. Despite these differences in composition, which may be related to the geographical location of the sampling site, sea fennel flowers from all locations can be considered a valuable source of important health-promoting phytochemicals.

Inoculations of plant roots with arbuscular mycorrhizae can reduce Verticillium wilt severity. In present research, the effect of inoculation of Verticillium dahliae (Vd) and three species of arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM), Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus irregularis and Claroideoglomus tunicate were studied on the activity of catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase in the root of Ahmad Aghaei and Badami Zarand pistachio rootstocks. The roots of the pistachio seedlings were inoculated with 100 propagules per gram of three species arbuscular mycorrhizae and two months later, Verticillium dahliae was inoculated. Measurement of enzyme activity was done after V. dahliae inoculation at 11 different times. The experiment was conducted as a factorial in a completely randomized design with 5 replications. The results showed that in Vd treatment, the specific activity of enzymes in Ahmad Aghaei decreased after an increasing period in days 8 to 12 after vd inoculation, then decreased less than AM inoculations, but in Badami Zarand, the activity of enzymes increased in a (days 8-16) and after that, despite the decreasing trend, it was still higher than AM treatment. In AM+Vd treatment, enzyme activity increased faster in both pistachio rootstocks compared to other treatments. In Badami Zarand, the time of the enzymes, peak activity was longer than in Ahmad Aghaei rootstocks. In general, the results of the present research indicated that increasing antioxidant enzyme activity can reduce the severity of Verticillium wilt in pistachio seedlings.

Abstract Background Effective management of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is crucial in combating the global HIV pandemic. This study, the first of its kind in Yemen, investigates the rate and determinants of switching from first-line to second-line ART among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Aden City, Yemen. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from PLWH who started first-line ART at Al-Wahda Hospital from 2007 to May 2022. PLWH in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programs, those already on second-line ART at enrollment, and those with less than 3 months of follow-up were excluded. Cumulative incidence curves and multivariable proportional hazards models were used to identify factors associated with switching, considering death and loss to follow-up as competing risks. Analyses were carried out using IBM SPSS version 26. Results Out of 149 PLWH, 18 (12.1%) switched to second-line ART with a cumulative incidence rate of 1.8 per 100 person-years. Significant factors for switching included being older than 33 years (HR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.12–1.89), having WHO stage 3 disease (HR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.21–2.06), and being on a TDF-FTC-EFV-based first-line regimen (HR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.03–1.77). This switching rate is consistent with rates observed in other resource-limited settings, indicating it is neither exceptionally high nor low compared to similar contexts​. Conclusions The study highlights key factors associated with switching to second-line ART in Yemen, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and continuous monitoring to enhance treatment outcomes. These findings are consistent with regional data from other resource-limited settings.

En este artículo se analiza el mercado mundial del carbonato de litio y del óxido de litio en el período 2010-2019, y se establecen comparaciones entre Chile y los principales exportadores de este producto. Para ello, se utilizan indicadores de competitividad, participación constante de mercado y ventaja comparativa revelada. Se determina así que Chile, a pesar del incremento de sus exportaciones, está perdiendo competitividad en los principales mercados. Por tanto, para enfrentar los incrementos futuros en la demanda del mineral, es recomendable acelerar la implementación de políticas que faciliten la explotación y estimulen la participación de las empresas en un mercado más abierto, transparente y competitivo.

Cultivated nettle Urtica dioica L., a member of the Urticaceae family, is widely distributed throughout the temperate regions of the world and can be used as a nutritious feed for animals through the winter period. The aim of this research was to determine (i) the nutritional value of freshly cultivated nettle Urtica dioica L. grown in the open field and (ii) the fermentation value of cultivated nettle Urtica dioica L. ensiled with additives, including a commercial inoculant containing bacteria that produce lactic acid and molasses from sugar beet after 60 days of ensiling. Cultivated nettle Urtica dioica L. was ensiled in six treatments: without additions (control); with sugar beet molasses (2, 4, and 6%) per 1 kg of fresh mass and a commercial inoculant (2 and 4 g/t of fresh mass) in five replicates. The results of this research showed that the cultivated nettle Urtica dioica L. contains a large proportion of proteins and some essential minerals, including calcium, and is especially rich in magnesium and iron. Without the addition of sugar beet molasses and without treatment with a commercial inoculant, poorly preserved silage from cultivated nettle was obtained. With 2% molasses, poorly preserved silage was obtained, but with 4 and 6% molasses, well-preserved silage from cultivated nettle was obtained. Based on the results of these studies, it is recommended to use sugar beet molasses during ensiling in a concentration of 4 to 6% of the fresh mass of cultivated nettle. In future research, it would be interesting to test the joint application of commercial inoculants and sugar beet molasses when preparing cultivated nettle Urtica dioica L. for silage on the farm.

Service-learning represents an innovative pedagogy that integrates academic learning with community service to address environmental issues based on experiential learning principles. This innovative pedagogy enhances higher education learning outcomes by fostering active engagement, real-world context, interdisciplinary insight, skills development, and civic engagement among students. The merging of service-learning contributes to a profound understanding of the subject matter, its practical applications, and personal and professional growth. This paper provides an overview of the implementation of service-learning in the STEM field, with a primary focus on the decade-long involvement of the Faculty of Chemistry and Technology in environmental protection projects. Through collaboration with the non-governmental organisation Sunce and partners from the University of Split, this initiative, led by environmental experts, has introduced a novel approach to higher education, facilitating knowledge expansion, skill improvement, and expertise development for both students and academic staff. The impact has been substantial, with the University of Split attaining the 21st position globally on the “World Universities with Real Impact” list for ethics in 2021, largely attributable to these service-learning projects. Service-learning has been integrated into the SEA-EU initiative, furthering its development at the University of Split, and establishing it as a pioneer in this field. Institutionalising service-learning in higher education requires the establishment of dedicated courses, integration into existing programmes, and the allocation of resources for academic staff, community partners, and students. Successful implementation requires a collaborative, iterative process involving careful planning, preparation, and assessment, ensuring that students benefit from meaningful opportunities to apply course content to real-world challenges while positively impacting the community.

Extreme environmental conditions affect the synthesis and accumulation of bioactive metabolites in halophytic plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and quantity of key health-promoting phytochemicals in Croatian sea fennel, one of the most popular Mediterranean halophytes with a wide range of uses. The EOs were characterised by a high content of limonene (up to 93%), while the fatty acid profile shows a low content of oleic acid and the presence of valuable linoleic acid (ω-6) and linolenic acid (ω-3) in high percentages. The dominances of lutein and α-tocopherol were also confirmed in all samples. The results confirm the great variability in the chemistry of sea fennel populations in the Mediterranean region, with significant differences in the composition of the Croatian samples compared to the others, as well as the presence and high concentrations of the analysed bioactive compounds that contribute to the plant's health-promoting attributes.

Introduction: Primary Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a rare subtype of urothelial carcinoma and has an unknown incidence and prevalence in Yemen. Radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) with bladder cuff removal is the standard treatment for UTUC. Case presentation: We present a 67-year-old male patient who developed grade II vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) on the left side of the urinary tract after undergoing right-sided RNU for non-invasive UTUC. Follow-up examinations at one-, three-, and six-month post-surgery revealed no evidence of kidney diseases. The patient's recovery has been satisfactory, and ongoing regular follow-ups are being maintained. Conclusion: Vigilant monitoring of VUR presence and effective management following RNU is crucial to minimize complications and preserve renal function. The underlying mechanisms linking VUR development and RNU remain unclear, necessitating further research.

Task-based instruction (TBI) is a pedagogical approach that centers on engaging learners in meaningful and communicative tasks to promote language acquisition, active participation, and practical language use. The primary objective of this investigation was to assess the influence of TBI on reading comprehension, motivation for L2 reading, anxiety, and L2 grit. Thus, two pre-existing classes from a large university in China were selected and one of them was assigned as the treatment and the other as the comparison group. An Oxford Quick Placement Test determined that the subjects possessed an intermediate level of proficiency. The experimental group received reading comprehension-based TBI, while the control group received traditional lecture-based strategy training. Each of the dependent variables was tested at two points of time. Based on a conducted t-test, while both groups knew exactly the same as time 1, the comparison group did less on the posttest in terms of reading comprehension skills than its treatment counterpart. The effect size was large. Furthermore, the results of a series of chi-squares showed that TBI had facilitating effects on motivation for L2 reading, language learning anxiety, and L2 grit, all with large effect sizes. That is, on the posttest, the number of motivated learners and grittier learners in the treatment group increased, while the number of high-anxiety learners in the experimental group decreased sharply. However, the participants' motivation for L2 reading, anxiety, and L2 grit did not significantly change after the treatment. The implications of the study are explained.

Multidirectional torsional hysteretic damper is a new type of damper that can be used to isolate and dissipate seismic effects on a structure. It can be designed to have a controllable post-elastic stiffness and exhibit high levels of damping as well as stable cyclic response. In this article, while offering a simplified numerical relationship for force-displacement response of the damper, the structure that is fitted with this innovative type of damper is optimized using the harmony search optimization procedure with discrete design variables. Numerical experiments show that the harmony search methodology can determine the damper parameters with high computational efficiency and outperform genetic algorithm and simulated annealing procedure in this regard.

Background: Subvastus approach and medial parapatellar approach are two major approaches for total knee replacement (TKR). There is no global consensus on the superiority of either approach in terms of functional outcomes. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the functional outcome of TKR through subvastus approach and medial parapatellar approach by using patient-reported scores at 3-, 6-, and 12-month post-operative follow-ups. Methods: This prospective cohort follow-up study included patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent elective primary TKR either through the subvastus or medial parapatellar approaches at King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from January 2019 to December 2022. Scores from the self-reported Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) were compared in the two groups of patients at 3-, 6-, and 12-month post-operative follow-ups. Results: A total of 98 patients were included, of which 37 underwent TKR through the subvastus approach and 61 through the medial parapatellar approach. There was an overall significant change over time in both WOMAC and OKS scores (P < 0.001). Patients who underwent the subvastus approach had significantly higher mean of WOMAC and OKS than patients with the medial parapatellar approach at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups (P < 0.05), but not at the 12-month follow-up. Conclusions: For TKR, the medial parapatellar approach results in better functional outcomes at the 3- and 6- month follow-up periods compared with the subvastus approach.

Context: Evaluation of visual quality in soft and rigid gas-permeable contact lens wearers, with an emphasis on twilight vision. Purpose: To assess the visual acuity and visual performance at dusk before and after soft and rigid gas-permeable contact lens (CL) correction in healthy subjects. Settings and Design: This prospective study was conducted in a tertiary eye-care center. Methods: Sixty eyes corrected with soft contact lenses (SCLs) and 30 eyes with rigid gas-permeable contact lenses (RGPCLs) were enrolled in this study. Patients underwent corrected distance visual acuity with spectacles (CDVAs), corrected distance visual acuity with contact lenses (CDVAcl), and twilight vision (TV) testing (Vista Vision Far-Pola, DMD MedTech charts). Parameters were evaluated before and after the CL fitting and repeated 3 months after the baseline visit. Statistical Analysis Used: MedCalc for Windows, version 11.4 (MedCalc Software, Ostend, Belgium). Results: Rigid gas-permeable CL wear showed significant improvement in CDVAcl compared to wearing spectacles on both visits (P = 0.0039 and P = 0.0003, respectively). TV with CLs was significantly better in both groups compared to the TV with spectacles at the baseline visit (P = 0.0011 in SCL group; P = 0.0001 in RGPCL group), and at the follow-up visit, this significance was proven for the RGPCL group (P = 0.001). Also, spectacle TV showed a significant improvement on the follow-up visit (P = 0.0022 in SCL group; P = 0.0269 in RGPCL group). Conclusion: Contact lens wear improves visual performance compared to spectacles. TV results showed superiority of CLs compared to the spectacles, without a statistical difference regarding the CL type.

Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is an unpredictable reaction of individuals exposed to a certain drug, and drug-induced autoimmune hepatitis (DIAIH) presents a DILI phenotype that mimics idiopathic autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) when considering the clinical, biochemical, serological and histological parameters. We present a case report of a 48-year-old male who was hospitalized due to severe hepatocellular liver injury two months after self-treatment with a muscle-building dietary supplement based on arginine-alpha-ketoglutarate, L-citrulline, L tyrosine, creatine malate and beet extract. His immunology panel was positive with increased IgG levels, and radiologic methods showed no signs of chronic liver disease. He underwent corticosteroid treatment with adequate response. After therapy withdrawal, a clinical relapse occurred. Seven months after the initial presentation, liver MR suggested initial cirrhotic changes in the right liver lobe. A liver biopsy revealed abundant lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate with piecemeal necrosis and grade 2 fibrosis. He responded well to the corticosteroid treatment again, and was further treated with low-dose prednisone without additional relapses. Several years later, further management confirmed the presence of liver cirrhosis with no histological or biochemical signs of disease activity. DIAIH is a DILI phenotype that is difficult to distinguish from idiopathic AIH despite a wide armamentarium of diagnostic methods. It should always be considered among the differential diagnoses in patients presenting with hepatocellular liver injury.

Corneal crosslinking (CXL) is a medical procedure used to treat keratoconus. CXL works by strengthening the collagen fibers of the cornea through the application of riboflavin (vitamin B2) and ultraviolet (UV) light, which helps to stabilize the cornea and prevent further deterioration. There is a recognized risk that CXL can trigger the reactivation of dormant herpes simplex virus (HSV), leading to herpetic keratitis even in patients with no history of herpetic disease. We examined the medical history of 52 patients who underwent CXL procedures due to previously diagnosed keratoconus. We reviewed the patient’s medical histories to assess whether there was a herpes labialis infection and/or herpetic keratitis. Altogether, 52 eyes (from 52 patients) were analyzed. Of those, four (7.69%) patients were diagnosed with epithelial herpetic keratitis on the 5–8th day after surgery. All four patients had a history of herpes labialis and no prior HSV keratitis infection. Two patients developed herpetic keratitis despite prophylactic therapy with acyclovir 5 days before surgery. A positive history of HSV lip infection before CXL was present in 18/52 (34.62%). During a one-year follow-up period, no patient experienced a recurrence. Close follow-up is crucial for diagnosing herpetic keratitis after corneal crosslinking. The use of prophylactic antiviral therapy in patients who are asymptomatic and have a history of recurrent herpes labialis does not guarantee the prevention of infection.

Cryptococcosis is a prevalent fungal infection of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, a yeast with a polysaccharide capsule in the basidiomycete group. Normally, C. neoformans infects the respiratory tract and then breaches the blood–brain barrier (BBB), leading to meningitis or meningoencephalitis, which leads to hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. Although the mechanism by which C. neoformans infiltrates the BBB to invade the brain has yet to be fully understood, research has revealed that C. neoformans can cross the BBB using transcellular penetration, paracellular traversal, and infected phagocytes (the “Trojan horse” mechanism). The secretion of multiple virulence factors by C. neoformans is crucial in facilitating the spread of infection after breaching the BBB and causing brain infections. Extensive research has shown that various virulence factors play a significant role in the dissemination of infection beyond the lungs. This review explores the mechanisms of C. neoformans entering the CNS and explains how it bypasses the BBB. Additionally, it aims to understand the interplay between the regulatory mechanisms and virulence factors of C. neoformans.