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In the past two decades, different aspects of teacher identity have been widely studied and discussed. However, in the field of English language teaching, the issue of identity among English for Specific Purposes (ESP) teachers seems to be an under-researched topic. This study focused on the narratives of a teacher to gain insight into her identity development during the process of becoming an ESP instructor. Data collection tools included initial reflection (before ESP instruction), learning journal, teaching journal, face-to-face meeting, and follow-up interview. Using the categorical analysis method, the study broke the collected texts into smaller units for descriptive treatment and examined some linguistic characteristics of this participant. The findings indicated an ESP teacher has to be prepared for extensive learning, be engaged in interdisciplinary collaboration, meet the expectations of trouble-shooting for a variety of problems, and undertake multiple tasks during lesson delivery. Most importantly, from EAP to ESP teaching, a teacher faces constant adjustments in teaching approach, lesson pace, and class activity. Therefore, new ESP teachers should be prepared for potential challenges in reconciling identity conflicts for professional growth.

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Introduction: The potential neuroprotective and regenerative properties of electrical stimulation (ES) were studied in rhodopsin knockout mice (Rho-/-), a murine model of inherited retinal degeneration. The study focused on assessing the impact of varying ES frequencies on visual functions and photoreceptor cell survival in Rho-/- mice. Methods: To elucidate the impact of electrical stimulation on cone survival, Rho-/- mice received either sham or transpalpebral ES using biphasic ramp or rectangular waveforms at 100 µA amplitude, starting at six weeks of age. The treatment duration spanned from one to three weeks. The optimal treatment frequency of ES sessions was determined by applying ES every one, two, or three days in three separate groups of Rho-/- mice. The sham group received daily treatments without the application of ES. Results: Our study revealed significant improvement of visual function in Rho-/- mice following daily or every-other-day noninvasive transpalpebral ES, as evidenced by electroretinogram and optomotor response-based visual behavior assays. Concurrently, assessment of outer nuclear thickness and immunohistochemistry for the cone photoreceptor cell marker PNA demonstrated pronounced increases in the survival of rods and cones and improvement in the morphology of the inner and outer segments. Discussion: This study underscores the protective effect of non-invasive ES in rhodopsin knockout-induced retinal degenerative disorders, providing a foundation for developing targeted therapeutic interventions for retinitis pigmentosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) are a vulnerable population given increased nutritional needs as puberty approaches. School‐based nutrition programs exist in some settings, but the comprehensive provision of nutrition services requires knowledge of the mechanisms to reach out‐of‐school adolescents. A comprehensive scoping review was performed using formal and informal search strategies to landscape all potential delivery platforms with nutrition services to reach adolescents. Peer‐reviewed studies, institutional strategies, program evaluations, and programmatic reports in LMICs were reviewed, including gray literature. A total of 87 out of 270 identified publications and reports describing nutrition programs for adolescents were identified. Although nutrition programs targeted at adolescents were sparse, various innovative and inclusive delivery platforms were included, such as school feeding programs, school‐based anemia control, and nutrition‐friendly school initiatives; health facility–based, youth‐friendly health and nutrition services; social safety nets targeted at adolescents; community‐based approaches targeting youth development and peer education within youth centers and faith‐based settings; and technology‐based platforms, including digital health services and mass media communication sensitization and mobilization efforts. Existing delivery mechanisms and platforms in health and other sectors that target adolescents offer great potential to extend nutrition interventions to this vulnerable yet hard‐to‐reach population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, although many translation and interpretation (T&I) courses have been offered in undergraduate programs among universities in Taiwan, sight translation (ST), the suggested preparatory course for learning interpreting (Ilg & Lambert, 1996) is not commonly offered as a separate course but an included component in other T&I courses. This study was inspired by the relatively few studies in ST, aiming to examine the effectiveness of the activities incorporated in an ST course to guide the students to practice the related skills. The data collection process lasted over three years and covered 81 students. This study investigated two issues: the students' perceptions about the effectiveness of ST activities and the challenges encountered in this learning experience. Data collection tools included a learning survey and interview. The former asked the students to evaluate the effectiveness of the incorporated course activities, and the latter focused on exploring students' learning experiences of ST, especially on the challenges they encountered. The findings indicated that English source language (SL) explanation of texts, pair practice, and teacher feedback/comments were perceived as a great help by the students, leading to their positive evaluation of learning and performing ST. In addition, the students evaluated their ST learning experiences positively for the reasons of being able to respond to translation tasks more quickly, being able to apply the acquired knowledge and learned skills, perceiving ST tasks as challenging and interesting, and enjoying more freedom in performing ST than written translation. Last, the students indicated that the challenges they encountered in ST learning and performance were mainly related to insufficient topical knowledge, unfamiliar expressions/jargon, inadequate vocabulary items, awkward expressions, and incorrect production in the target language. To strengthen students' ability in performing ST, the instruction should emphasize text analysis, extensive reading on various topics, expanding vocabulary repertoire, and feedback provisions.

Retinitis pigmentosa is a hereditary retinal disease that affects rod and cone photoreceptors, leading to progressive photoreceptor loss. Previous research supports the beneficial effect of electrical stimulation on photoreceptor survival. This study aims to identify the most effective electrical stimulation parameters and functional advantages of transcorneal electrical stimulation (tcES) in mice affected by inherited retinal degeneration. Additionally, the study seeked to analyze the electric field that reaches the retina in both eyes in mice and post-mortem humans. In this study, we recorded waveforms and voltages directed to the retina during transcorneal electrical stimulation in C57BL/6J mice using an intraocular needle probe with rectangular, sine, and ramp waveforms. To investigate the functional effects of electrical stimulation on photoreceptors, we used human retinal explant cultures and rhodopsin knockout (Rho–/–) mice, demonstrating progressive photoreceptor degeneration with age. Human retinal explants isolated from the donors' eyes were then subjected to electrical stimulation and cultured for 48 hours to simulate the neurodegenerative environment in vitro. Photoreceptor density was evaluated by rhodopsin immunolabeling. In vivo Rho–/– mice were subjected to two 5-day series of daily transcorneal electrical stimulation using rectangular and ramp waveforms. Retinal function and visual perception of mice were evaluated by electroretinography and optomotor response (OMR), respectively. Immunolabeling was used to assess the morphological and biochemical changes of the photoreceptor and bipolar cells in mouse retinas. Oscilloscope recordings indicated effective delivery of rectangular, sine, and ramp waveforms to the retina by transcorneal electrical stimulation, of which the ramp waveform required the lowest voltage. Evaluation of the total conductive resistance of the post-mortem human compared to the mouse eyes indicated higher cornea-to-retina resistance in human eyes. The temperature recordings during and after electrical stimulation indicated no significant temperature change in vivo and only a subtle temperature increase in vitro (~0.5–1.5°C). Electrical stimulation increased photoreceptor survival in human retinal explant cultures, particularly at the ramp waveform. Transcorneal electrical stimulation (rectangular + ramp) waveforms significantly improved the survival and function of S and M-cones and enhanced visual acuity based on the optomotor response results. Histology and immunolabeling demonstrated increased photoreceptor survival, improved outer nuclear layer thickness, and increased bipolar cell sprouting in Rho–/– mice. These results indicate that transcorneal electrical stimulation effectively delivers the electrical field to the retina, improves photoreceptor survival in both human and mouse retinas, and increases visual function in Rho–/– mice. Combined rectangular and ramp waveform stimulation can promote photoreceptor survival in a minimally invasive fashion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of neurons to rapidly remodel their synaptic structure and strength in response to neuronal activity is highly conserved across species and crucial for complex brain functions. However, mechanisms required to elicit and coordinate the acute, activity-dependent structural changes across synapses are not well understood, as neurodevelopment and structural plasticity are tightly linked. Here, using an RNAi screen in Drosophila against genes affecting nervous system functions in humans, we uncouple cellular processes important for synaptic plasticity and synapse development. We find mutations associated with neurodegenerative and mental health disorders are 2-times more likely to affect activity-induced synaptic remodeling than synapse development. We report that while both synapse development and activity-induced synaptic remodeling at the fly NMJ require macroautophagy (hereafter referred to as autophagy), bifurcation in the autophagy pathway differentially impacts development and synaptic plasticity. We demonstrate that neuronal activity enhances autophagy activation but diminishes degradative autophagy, thereby driving the pathway towards autophagy-based secretion. Presynaptic knockdown of Snap29, Sec22, or Rab8, proteins implicated in the secretory autophagy pathway, is sufficient to abolish activity-induced synaptic remodeling. This study uncovers secretory autophagy as a transsynaptic signaling mechanism modulating synaptic plasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]