ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic has caused a lot of damage to the social, economic and educational infrastructure of the world. The rapid change in the online learning environment calls for the development of effective learning strategies to support student learning. Principally information communication technology (ICT) emerged as a new hope in teaching-learning in streams like science and technology. Especially in the teaching-learning of a challenging subject like physics and its various streams, e.g. mechanics, wave, optics, etc., the use of ICT has increased exponentially due to its unique properties. However, some of its side effects have also been visible during this period. This study presents the feedback, experiences and recommendations of physics teachers regarding the application of ICT in the teaching-learning of physics. This article offers a comprehensive view of the impact of information and communication technology-enabled teaching-learning processes in physical sciences. To accomplish this study, an 18-question questionnaire was circulated among physics teachers across the nation and more than 100 physics teachers participated and recorded their responses. The outcomes of these responses were analysed, and corresponding conclusions with recommendations are presented. This study may be helpful for students, teachers, researchers and policymakers working in this field of ICT-enabled physics education.
ABSTRACT
Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) that follows traumatic brain injury (TBI) is thought to be a major contributor to neurocognitive dysfunction that sometimes follows TBI. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and neuropsychological tests (NPT) were performed on 38 TBI patients [hemorrhagic DAI (H-DAI, n=8), non-hemorrhagic (Nh-DAI, n=7), with no apparent DAI on conventional MRI (NA-DAI, n=23)] with a Glasgow Coma Scale score ranging between 9 and 13. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were quantified from different regions of the corpus callosum (CC), and peri-ventricular white matter (PWM) within 5-14 days and 6 months following TBI. Patients in all three groups showed decreased FA in the anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC) and the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), while the genu of the CC showed a decrease in the H-DAI group during the early period following TBI that persisted 6 months later, which appeared to be consistent with axonopathy. In patients without abnormalities on conventional MRI and DTI in the initial phase, a significant decrease in FA and increase in MD were observed in a few regions of the CC at 6 months, which was suggestive of demyelination/gliosis. The changes in FA and MD in the CC and PWM at 6 months follow-up showed significant correlation with some of the NPT performed in the three groups. DTI demonstrates axonopathy in the acute stage, as well as at secondary stages, at 6 months post-injury in the CC and PWM in regions of normal-appearing white matter on conventional MRI.
