Analisis Kemampuan Mengembangkan Bahan Ajar yang Kontekstual Berbasis Power Point pada Guru SMP Negeri 11 Merauke

SMP Negeri 11 Merauke terletak di Distrik Sota yang peserta didiknya cukup beragam, bahkan ada dari negara tetangga, yaitu PNG. Hasil ujian nasional peserta didik, khususnya mata pelajaran IPA pada tiga tahun terakhir terus mengalami penurunan. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa hasil belajar peserta didik tergolong rendah. Salah satu hal yang menyebabkan rendahnya hasil belajar peserta didik adalah pembelajaran yang belum dilengkapi dengan media pembelajaran yang kontekstual.Tujuan kegiatan ini adalah untuk meningkatkan kemampuan guru IPA agar mampu mebuat media pembelajaran yang kontekstual dengan menggunakan PowerPoint. Media pembelajaran ini diharapkan dapat meningkatkan hasil belajar peserta didik, khususnya pada ujian nasional. Adapun subjek dalam kegiatan ini adalah guru-guru SMP Negeri 11 Merauke yang terletak di Distrik Sota yang merupakan daerah perbatasan antara RI dengan Papua New Guinea yang berjumlah 15 orang. Metode pelaksanaan kegiatan pengabdian adalah dengan melakukan pelatihan, pendampingan serta pembuatan media pembelajaran IPA yang kontekstual dengan mengintegrasikan ke dalam PowerPoint. Hasil pelaksanaan kegiatan menunjukkan bahwa terjadi peningkatan kemampuan menggunakan PowerPoint untuk media pembelajaran sebesar 24,5%, yaitu dari 27,3% menjadi 45,7%. Secara umum, pengetahuan dan kemampuan guru menggunakan PowerPoint sebagai media pembelajaran masih tergolong rendah cukup rendah. Oleh karena itu, diharapkan kepada seluruh stakeholder untuk memperhatikan kemampuan guru di dalam menggunakan TIK, khususnya yang berhubungan langsung dengan pembelajaran. Hal ini tentunya akan mendukung karakteristik pembelajaran abad 21 serta pembelajaran di era revolusi industri 4.0 (I4.0)

Review: Research Toward Safer Resection of the Cirrhotic Liver

Despite recent advances in hepatic surgery, resection of the cirrhotic liver continues to be fraught with high morbidity and mortality rates. As a result, for many patients requiring resection of HCC the postoperative course is complicated and the probability of cure is diminished by coexisting cirrhosis. In this review, we discuss the characteristics of the cirrhotic liver which make it poorly tolerant of resection and the most common complications that follow such surgery. The main purpose of this paper is to review recent attempts to identify interventions that might be beneficial to cirrhotic patients undergoing resection. These interventions include assessment of liver reserve, advances in surgical technique, and improvement in liver function and regeneration

The altered expression of α1 and β3 subunits of the gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor is related to the hepatitis C virus infection

The modulation of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA A) receptors activity was observed in several chronic hepatitis failures, including hepatitis C. The expression of GABA A receptor subunits α1 and β3 was detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) originated from healthy donors. The aim of the study was to evaluate if GABA A α1 and β3 expression can also be observed in PBMCs from chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients and to evaluate a possible association between their expression and the course of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. GABA A α1- and β3-specific mRNAs presence and a protein expression in PBMCs from healthy donors and CHC patients were screened by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively. In patients, HCV RNA was determined in sera and PBMCs. It was shown that GABA A α1 and β3 expression was significantly different in PBMCs from CHC patients and healthy donors. In comparison to healthy donors, CHC patients were found to present an increase in the expression of GABA A α1 subunit and a decrease in the expression of β3 subunit in their PBMCs. The modulation of α1 and β3 GABA A receptors subunits expression in PBMCs may be associated with ongoing or past HCV infection

Fingolimod: therapeutic mechanisms and ocular adverse effects.

Fingolimod is an oral immunomodulating drug used in the management of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). We aim to review the published literature on ocular manifestations of fingolimod therapy and their possible underlying mechanisms. The therapeutic effects of fingolimod are mediated via sphingosine receptors, which are found ubiquitously in various organs, including lymphoid cells, central nervous system, cardiac myocytes, and smooth muscle cells. Fingolimod-associated macular oedema (FAME) is the most common ocular side effect but retinal haemorrhages and retinal vein occlusion can occur. The visual consequences appear to be mild and, in cases of FAME, resolution is often attained with discontinuation of therapy. However, in cases of retinal vein occlusion, discontinuation of fingolimod alone may not be sufficient and intra-vitreal therapy may be required. We also propose a pragmatic service pathway for monitoring patients on fingolimod therapy, which includes stratifying them by risk and visual acuity

The effect of acute exercise on glycogen synthesis rate in obese subjects studied by 13C MRS

In obesity, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle is decreased. We investigated whether the stimulatory effect of acute exercise on glucose uptake and subsequent glycogen synthesis was normal. The study was performed on 18 healthy volunteers, 9 obese (BMI = 32.6 ± 1.2 kg/m2, mean ± SEM) and 9 lean (BMI = 22.0 ± 0.9 kg/m2), matched for age and gender. All participants underwent a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, showing reduced glucose uptake in the obese group (P = 0.01), during which they performed a short intense local exercise (single-legged toe lifting). Dynamic glucose incorporation into glycogen in the gastrocnemius muscle before and after exercise was assessed by 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy combined with infusion of [1-13C]glucose. Blood flow was measured to investigate its potential contribution to glucose uptake. Before exercise, glycogen synthesis rate tended to be lower in obese subjects compared with lean (78 ± 14 vs. 132 ± 24 μmol/kg muscle/min; P = 0.07). Exercise induced highly significant rises in glycogen synthesis rates in both groups, but the increase in obese subjects was reduced compared with lean (112 ± 15 vs. 186 ± 27 μmol/kg muscle/min; P = 0.03), although the relative increase was similar (184 ± 35 vs. 202 ± 51%; P = 0.78). After exercise, blood flow increased equally in both groups, without a temporal relationship with the rate of glycogen synthesis. In conclusion, this study shows a stimulatory effect of a short bout of acute exercise on insulin-induced glycogen synthesis rate that is reduced in absolute values but similar in percentages in obese subjects. These results suggest a shared pathway between insulin- and exercise-induced glucose uptake and subsequent glycogen synthesis