The facts about the effects of pedagogical agents on learners' cognitive load: a meta-analysis based on 24 studies.

The role of pedagogical agents in multimedia learning as an element that gives students social cues to promote cognition has been demonstrated in terms of enhancing students' academic performance and intrinsic motivation. Cognitive load is an important factor in measuring the effectiveness of multimedia learning, but the results of pedagogical agents' effects on learners' cognitive load have been consistently inconsistent. In this study, a meta-analytical approach was used to comprehensively analyse 24 empirical studies to investigate the effects of pedagogical agents on students' cognitive load in multimedia learning and the moderating factors in their process.

A Novel Intronic Mutation in MBD5 Results in Autosomal Dominant Intellectual Disability Type 1 due to Abnormal Splicing.

Background: We identified a novel variant in MBD5 located within intron 6: c.114-13A>G (NM_018328.5) in a family with a patient presenting intellectual disability.

Egg white peptides suppress ghrelin secretion from the stomach by activating the mTOR signaling pathway in rats.

Egg consumption has usually been associated with reduced food intake. This study aimed to investigate the effects of egg white-derived peptides on the plasma ghrelin levels and its secretion from the stomach in rats after oral administration. The findings revealed that egg white protein hydrolysate (EWH) generated through simulated gastrointestinal digestion significantly decreased food intake, plasma ghrelin levels, and ghrelin expression in the stomach and duodenum of normal and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats.

Capsaicin induces ferroptosis via suppression of SLC7A11 activity and upregulation of ACSL4 mediated by AMPK in tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

Introduction: The global incidence of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) has been steadily increasing. Our previous studies have demonstrated that capsaicin (CAP) promotes apoptosis and inhibits cell migration, thereby exerting anti-TSCC effects. In this study, we aimed to validate whether CAP induces ferroptosis in TSCC and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Milk peptides alleviate irritable bowel syndrome by suppressing colonic mast cell activation and prostaglandin E2 production in mice.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of milk peptides on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The mice were intragastrally administered with casein or whey protein hydrolysates at a dose of 1 g/kg body weight/day for 24 days and were subjected to Citrobacter rodentium infection and water avoidance stress from day 7 to 24. Results indicated that casein and whey protein hydrolysates effectively reduced diarrhea, anxiety, and visceral hypersensitivity in IBS mice.

Transcriptome analysis of key genes and pathways associated with cisplatin resistance in oral squamous cell carcinoma Cal27 cells.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has a poor postoperative recovery and is prone to drug resistance during long-term chemotherapy, but the molecular mechanism of its resistance has not been fully elucidated.

Methods: In the present study, a cisplatin-resistant cell line Cal27R was established and the key genes and pathways associated with drug resistance were explored using bioinformatics analysis and molecular biology experimental techniques.

Results: Transcriptome analysis reveals a total of 1927 differentially expressed genes (DEGs).

Quinoa protein and its hydrolysate improve the fatigue resistance of mice: a potential mechanism to relieve oxidative stress and inflammation and improve energy metabolism.

Fatigue is commonly marked by reduced endurance and impaired function, often linked to overexertion and chronic conditions. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), with its rich amino acids and resilience to harsh conditions, offers a novel strategy for combating fatigue.

The subthalamic nucleus contributes causally to perceptual decision-making in monkeys.

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) plays critical roles in the motor and cognitive function of the basal ganglia (BG), but the exact nature of these roles is not fully understood, especially in the context of decision-making based on uncertain evidence. Guided by theoretical predictions of specific STN contributions, we used single-unit recording and electrical microstimulation in the STN of healthy monkeys to assess its causal, computational roles in visual-saccadic decisions based on noisy evidence. The recordings identified subpopulations of STN neurons with distinct task-related activity patterns that related to different theoretically predicted functions.

External Validation of the ICU-Venous Thromboembolism Risk Assessment Model in Adult Critically Ill Patients.

Background: Currently, no universally accepted standardized VTE risk assessment model (RAM) is specifically designed for critically ill patients. Although the ICU-venous thromboembolism (ICU-VTE) RAM was initially developed in 2020, it lacks prospective external validation.

Objectives: To evaluate the predictive performance of the ICU-VTE RAM in terms of VTE occurrence in mixed medical-surgical ICU patients.

Corn Peptides Alleviate Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Fibrosis in Mice by Inhibiting NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Regulating Gut Microbiota.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of corn gluten-derived soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitory peptides on nonalcoholic fatty liver fibrosis induced by a high-fat diet and carbon tetrachloride in mice. Mice treated with corn peptides at doses of 500 or 1000 mg/kg/d for 4 weeks exhibited reduced sEH activity in serum and liver, enhanced lipid metabolism, and decreased lipid accumulation and oxidative stress. Corn peptides effectively downregulated the mRNA levels of , , NOD-like receptor protein 3 (), , , , and in the liver.

Characteristics of Umami Taste of Soy Sauce Using Electronic Tongue, Amino Acid Analyzer, and MALDI-TOF MS.

The objective of this study was to investigate the umami characteristics of soy sauce using electronic tongue evaluation and amino acid composition and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis. The soy sauce peptides were isolated from soy sauce using XAD-16 macroporous resin combined with ethanol solution. The results showed that the soy sauce peptide fraction eluted by 60% ethanol (SS-60%) exhibited a prominent umami taste, and the umami scores were highly positively correlated with the amino acid nitrogen contents of soy sauces.

Influence of germination and roasting on the characteristic volatile organic compounds of quinoa using sensory evaluation, -nose, HS-GC-IMS, and HS-SPME-GC-MS.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of germination and roasting on the flavor of quinoa. Firstly, the aroma of quinoa and germinated quinoa roasted under different conditions was analyzed using sensory evaluation and electronic nose (-nose). Results showed that the best favorable aroma of quinoa and germinated quinoa was obtained when roasted at 160 °C for 15 min.

The subthalamic nucleus contributes causally to perceptual decision-making in monkeys.

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) plays critical roles in the motor and cognitive function of the basal ganglia (BG), but the exact nature of these roles is not fully understood, especially in the context of decision-making based on uncertain evidence. Guided by theoretical predictions of specific STN contributions, we used single-unit recording and electrical microstimulation in the STN of healthy monkeys to assess its causal, computational roles in visual-saccadic decisions based on noisy evidence. The recordings identified subpopulations of STN neurons with distinct task-related activity patterns that related to different theoretically predicted functions.

Neural Representations of Post-Decision Accuracy and Reward Expectation in the Caudate Nucleus and Frontal Eye Field.

Performance monitoring that supports ongoing behavioral adjustments is often examined in the context of either choice confidence for perceptual decisions (i.e., "did I get it right?") or reward expectation for reward-based decisions (i.

Quinoa protein and its hydrolysate ameliorated DSS-induced colitis in mice by modulating intestinal microbiota and inhibiting inflammatory response.

The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of quinoa protein (QPro) and its derived peptides (QPep) in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. The results demonstrated that oral administration of QPro and QPep significantly alleviated colitis symptoms, including diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloody stools, weight loss, as well as reduced colonic shortening, inflammatory factor release, and intestinal barrier injury. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production rose as QPro and QPep modulated the composition of the intestinal microbiota.

Absorption of egg white hydrolysate in the intestine: Clathrin-dependent endocytosis as the main transport route.

This paper aimed to investigate the in vivo absorption of egg white hydrolysate (EWH) in rats and the transport route across the intestinal epithelium. Results showed that the level of plasma peptide-bound amino acid (PAA) of the EWH-supplemented rats (EWH-R) was determined to be 2012.18 ± 300.

Quinoa Peptides Alleviate Obesity in Mice Induced by a High-Fat Diet via Regulating of the PPAR-α/γ Signaling Pathway and Gut Microbiota.

Scope: The obesity epidemic continues to be a major global public health threat with limited effective treatments. Peptides are a group of promising bioactive molecules. Both in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that quinoa has potential prebiotic benefits.

Contributions of the Basal Ganglia to Visual Perceptual Decisions.

The basal ganglia (BG) make up a prominent nexus between visual and motor-related brain regions. In contrast to the BG's well-established roles in movement control and value-based decision making, their contributions to the transformation of visual input into an action remain unclear, especially in the context of perceptual decisions based on uncertain visual evidence. This article reviews recent progress in our understanding of the BG's contributions to the formation, evaluation, and adjustment of such decisions.

Preparation of quinoa protein with ultrasound pretreatment and its effects on the physicochemical properties, structural and digestion characterizations.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of ultrasound pretreatment on the yield and the physicochemical properties, structural and digestion characterizations of quinoa protein (QP). Results showed that under the conditions of ultrasonic power density of 0.64 W/mL, ultrasonication time of 33 min, and the liquid-solid ratio of 24 mL/g, the highest yield of QP at 68.

Subcritical hydrothermal oxidation of semi-dry ash from iron ore sintering flue gas desulfurization: Experimental and kinetic studies.

Realization of low temperature and high efficiency oxidation of CaSO is the key to solve the issue of ecological hazards caused by semi-dry sintering flue gas desulfurization ash. The subcritical hydrothermal technology was employed for the oxidation of CaSO, achieving 89.83% of CaSO at 180 °C, 2 MPa for 120 min with a solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:20.

Machine learning-based clustering and classification of mouse behaviors via respiratory patterns.

Breathing is dynamically modulated by metabolic needs as well as by emotional states. Even though rodents are invaluable models for investigating the neural control of respiration, current literature lacks systematic characterization of breathing dynamics across a broad spectrum of rodent behaviors. Here we uncover a wide diversity in breathing patterns across spontaneous, attractive odor-, stress-, and fear-induced behaviors in mice.

Scratch-AID, a deep learning-based system for automatic detection of mouse scratching behavior with high accuracy.

Mice are the most commonly used model animals for itch research and for development of anti-itch drugs. Most laboratories manually quantify mouse scratching behavior to assess itch intensity. This process is labor-intensive and limits large-scale genetic or drug screenings.

Passing the baton: Information transfer between neurons enables continuity of the decision process.

In this issue of Neuron, So and Shadlen (2022) reveal that the transfer of choice-related information between neurons renders the decision process robust to intervening events.

Insulin signaling in the long-lived reproductive caste of ants.

In most organisms, reproduction is correlated with shorter life span. However, the reproductive queen in eusocial insects exhibits a much longer life span than that of workers. In ants, when the queen dies, workers can undergo an adult caste switch to reproductive pseudo-queens (gamergates), exhibiting a five-times prolonged life span.