Role of Brain Biomarker in Predicting Clinical Outcome in Hypertensive Cerebrovascular Ischemic Stroke

This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) in prediction of disability and neurological worsening in hypertensive ischemic cerebrovascular stroke. 80 hypertensive ischemic stroke patients diagnosed by a neurologist as per WHO definition along with radiological findings suggestive of cerebrovascular stroke and differentiating from hemorrhagic stroke and 60 controls having essential hypertension coming to hospital because of regular checkup or headache but with no neurological disease were included in the study. Neurological disability was assessed by NIHSS at the time of admission (within 72 h from the onset of stroke) and on 7th day after admission and cases were categorized into mild, moderate and severe disability. Venous blood samples were drawn within 72 h from the onset of symptoms. The samples were processed as per the laboratory protocol. The serum NSE samples were analyzed using an enzyme immunoassay based on the sandwich technique. We observed raised serum NSE in hypertensive ischemic stroke (17.4 ± 5.4 ng/ml) with significant association between different hypertensive groups than in hypertensive controls (9.1 ± 0.75 ng/ml). Greater degree of disability was observed in hypertensive stroke patients with raised serum NSE and hypertensive patients with mean serum NSE level of 22.9 ± 3.6 ng/ml and dyslipidemia had greater probability of neurological worsening as compared to those with mean serum NSE level of 12.7 ± 1.2 ng/ml. Serum NSE levels can serve as a peripheral indicator of neuronal damage and assist in the prediction of disability and clinical outcome in hypertensive cerebrovascular ischemic stroke patients.     

Glial cells: The other cells of the nervous system

Neuroscientists have believed for a long time that glial cells are supportive elements of the nervous system and have little role in neuronal function. Despite outnumbering neurons tenfold in the Central Nervous System (CNS), and contributing to more than half the brain volume, not much attention was paid to these cells. Recently, glial cells have been found to be far more active participants in CNS function. A set of glial cells, the oligodendrocytes, has attracted attention as their precursors have been found to be extremely plastic. Though these precursor cells are initially committed to form oligodendrocytes alone, they can also be induced to form astrocytes and neurons. Such examples of transdetermination are opening up new lines of research with immense clinical implications. In this part of the series we review some aspects of oligodendrocyte structure and function.     

Children’s Participation in a Virtual Epidemic in the Science Classroom: Making Connections to Natural Infectious Diseases

This study investigated students’ understanding of a virtual infectious disease in relation to their understanding of natural infectious diseases. Two sixth-grade classrooms of students between the ages of 10 and 12 (46 students) took part in a participatory simulation of a virtual infectious disease, which was integrated into their science curriculum. The results from our analyses reveal that students perceived the simulation as similar to a natural infectious disease and that the immersive components of the simulation afforded students the opportunity to discuss their understandings of natural disease and to compare them to their experiences with the virtual disease. We found that while the virtual disease capitalized on students’ knowledge of natural infectious disease through virtual symptoms, these symptoms may have led students to think of its transfer more as an observable or mechanical event rather than as a biological process. These findings provide helpful indicators to science educators and educational designers interested in creating and integrating online simulations within classroom environments to further students’ conceptual understanding.     

Green roofs for storm water management: a review

The rapid urbanization and industrialization involve an unsustainable use of natural systems,leading to various problems in cities.The urban hydrological system experiences fluctuating amount of surfac...     

The civic potential of Bollywood based dance flash mobs: on youth participation and digital networks

In this paper I argue that artists/activists in India use Bollywood dance and songs to choreograph flash mob performances with the aim of addressing issues of public importance because Bollywood is a common performative site that can be used to mobilize people. In order to understand how Bollywood based dance flash mobs have civic potential for activists-cum-performers, I conducted in-depth interviews with 20 flash mob choreographers in four cities of India. Based on my findings, I suggest that Bollywood based dance flash mobs are identified by the urban youth as inherently political and democratic in nature. These performances are often accompanied with the organizer-generated subgenre of flash mob videos recorded for the online audience. In archiving these performances, organizers also enable a virtual network of connections where individuals who share the same civic aspirations can come together and build solidarity around the cause.     

Leveraging local resources and contexts for inclusive computer science classrooms: Reflections from experienced high school teachers implementing electronic textiles

ABSTRACT

Background and context

Promoting open-ended projects presents new opportunities and challenges for inclusive teaching in CS classrooms. While efforts have been made to develop inclusive curricula, little research has focused on ways teachers apply curricula in their classrooms to promote inclusion.