The combination of TAE 110 mg/kg and TPNS 115 mg/kg could strengthen protective effects on cerebral ischemia injury, the mechanism underlying might be related to improving jointly the early energy metabolism, and relieving the delayed apoptosis via inhibiting the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway of JNK signal transduction.

This aim of this study was to explore the effects and molecular mechanisms of Astragalus extract against cerebral ischemia injury through the energy metabolism and apoptosis pathways of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signal transduction. After the bilateral common carotid artery of C57BL/6 mice was occluded for 20 min followed by 1-h reperfusion, the ATP content, total adenine nucleotides (TAN), energy charge (EC), and sodium potassium ATPase (Na -K -ATPase) activity were decreased markedly in brain tissues. Astragalus extract markedly increased the ATP and ADP levels, EC value, and Na -K -ATPase activity. Twenty-four and 48 h after reperfusion, the neurocyte survival rate decreased and apoptosis rate increased, while the expression of phosphorylated JNK1/2, cytochrome c (Cyt C), and cysteine aspartic acid-specific protease (caspase)-9 and -3 were significantly enhanced in brain tissues. Astragalus extract significantly increased neurocyte survival and decreased the apoptosis rate as well as down-regulated the expression of p-JNK1/2, Cyt C, caspase-9, and caspase-3. These results suggest that Astragalus extract has neuroprotective effects against nerve injury after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, and the underlying mechanism may be associated with improved cellular energy metabolism, inhibition of JNK signal transduction pathway activation, and then suppression of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.

Embracing gamification in education is, indeed, inevitable, especially with the arrival of the millennials whose lives are greatly influenced by digital technologies and favor learning in a fun, interactive, and engaging environment. Quizizz, a gamified educational tool, has gradually gained the interest of researchers and stakeholders in education as this application has presented positive outcomes towards learning with the integration of unique game elements such as leader boards, memes, and quiz reports, each of which can assist in enhancing engagement and provide a positive learning experience in a non-stressful setting. This research was conducted to explore the influence and effects of Quizizz in enhancing young Malaysian ESL learners learning irregular English verbs. This quasi-experimentally designed research gathered data from a sample of 30 primary pupils using a pre-test/post-test approach. The data attained were analyzed descriptively using sample t-tests to explain the increment of the pupils' performance on the post-test associated with learning via Quizizz. The results are discussed both in terms of overall pupil performance involving the use of Quizizz and in terms of gender comparison to examine any significant difference in performance between male and female users of Quizizz.

Education has been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Children are becoming restless and stressed upon adjusting to emergent learning. An online platform that can regulate informal learning opportunities and entertainment for children during the worldwide crisis is needed. This need points towards the potential use of YouTube Kids (YTK); the app is age-appropriate and it offers popular videos with diverse contents. Studies have focused on the safety of YTK, but none has explored how young users could navigate their informal learning through the app. Fifty respondents aged 11 to 12 from a rural school in Sarawak, Malaysia participated in this study. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study incorporated an online questionnaire and semi-structured group interviews as research instruments. Findings indicated distinctive features concerning the safety and multimodality of YTK. These features make YTK a great informal learning tool for children during present worldwide pandemic.   Received: 25 January 2021 / Accepted: 24 March 2021 / Published: 10 May 2021

No abstract