A Study of “Shared Teaching” and “Video Conferencing in Classrooms” as Techniques for Improving English Literature Learning Experience

Globalisation and the emergence of internet in all fields of human affairs have brought unprecedented changes in higher academics. Physical and political boundaries are now hardly any barrier in restricting access to knowledge or information. Learning is a social process, and it typically tries to enhance an individual’s knowledge and understanding through solo activities, as well as group and peer interaction. Thus, one of the key learning skills is that of communication. Through collaboration, learning becomes more effective. And for such collaborative learning, effective communication tools and channels are necessary pre-requisites. And in today’s world, the exponential importance of English as the most effective means of communication between people of different cultures and countries, cannot be denied. Internationalism in higher education has become the latest concern for universities across the world. And for the teaching and learning of English (both the language skill and its literature), this internationalism can only be an added advantage. Tools of ICT are often considered relevant only for facilitating the teaching and learning of science subjects. Technology is an important aspect of modern life. Science and technology contribute to human well-being in perceptible ways and thus our society likes investing in science and technology because they provide us with provisions for life. Literature provides us with visions, ideas and understanding that we can apply to our lives. However, literature does not bring about any quantitative change. Its impact is intangible and incalculable in terms of quantity. Humanities or literary discourse brings out qualitative changes that remain countless. A good poem or novel may not be able to provide material comforts, but they can inspire, motivate, heal and change the readers. Revolutions have been brought about because of the power of literature. Thus, the importance of studying literature will always be relevant for human beings. What needs to be kept in mind today, however, is that science and technology and humanities are complementary and scientific innovations like video conferencing and shared teaching, when used in Literature classrooms, only serve to increase the understanding of the prescribed texts for the students. This paper proposes to study two such innovative techniques of teaching English literature in Palestinian HEIs—shared teaching (where two teachers, one local and one preferably English share classes within the classroom) and video conference classes (where students can listen to teachers in distant locations, even overseas; and have exposure to other cultures and modes of teaching). The aim of this study is to see how these innovations improve the learning experience of Palestinian students opting to study English Literature in their B.A. courses. The analytical method will mostly be applied for completing this study

Overexpression of Colligin 2 in Glioma Vasculature is Associated with Overexpression of Heat Shock Factor 2

In previous studies we found expression of the protein colligin 2 (heat shock protein 47 (HSP47), SERPINH1) in glioma neovasculature while not in normal brain tissue. Generally, the regulation of heat shock gene expression in eukaryotes is mediated by heat shock factors (HSF). In mammals, three heat shock transcription factors, HSF-1, -2, and -4, have been isolated. Here we investigated the relation between the expression of colligin 2 and these heat shock factors at the mRNA level using real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) in different grades of astrocytic tumorigenesis, viz., low-grade glioma and glioblastoma. Endometrium samples, representing physiological angiogenesis, were included as controls. Since colligin 2 is a chaperon for collagens, the gene expression of collagen I (COL1A1) was also investigated. The blood vessel density of the samples was monitored by expression of the endothelial marker CD31 (PECAM1). Because NG2-immunopositive pericytic cells are involved in glioma neovascularization, the expression of NG2 (CSPG4) was also measured

Overexpression of the adhesion signaling pathway is linked to short-term survival in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Background and objective: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is known for its unfavorable prognosis. Gaining insights into the molecular mechanisms that contribute to its progression is crucial for developing effective therapies. In this study, our objective was to investigate the molecular pathways associated with short-term survival in patients with PDAC. Methods: Immune profiles were analyzed from both long-term survivors (n = 10) and short-term survivors (n = 10) after surgical resection. Pathway scores were calculated to compare the two groups. Results: The “Adhesion” pathway emerged as the most significant pathway, exhibiting a notably higher score in the samples of short-term survivors (P &lt; 0.009). Within this pathway, significant findings were observed in genes related to integrins and CEACAM. Conclusion: The role of integrins in the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer is of utmost importance, as they are found to be overexpressed in short-term survivors. These findings provide valuable insights into the underlying biology of PDAC and have potential implications for the development of therapeutic strategies.</p

Van Gölü havzasının temel yapısal unsurları, tektonik ve sedimanter evrimi, Doğu Türkiye

The peculiar one of the wedge-basins in E-Turkey&nbsp; is orogen-parallel Lake Van trough that is the deepest basin of the rotated portions of EAAC and thrust-bounded region. This lake is emplaced at N-end of Bitlis-P&ouml;t&uuml;rge Massive (BP-M) along Muş suture, separating EAAC from BP-M. Lake Van region is a place where no mantle lid exists and hot asthenosphere is doming, therefore, it has dome-shaped structure with the highest elevation (2 km), termed as Lake Van Dome. The domal pattern of the lake, in fact, is a morphological paradigm, well representing the surficial effects of delamination event, crustal consolidation and crust-forming process. Not surprisingly, outline anatomy of Lake Van Dome clearly exhibits an orogenic structure with its formation of the squashy basin and thus, both its morphological and limnological characteristics may imply basement reactivation and orogenic features of the Highlands rifting phenomena in the domal center of accretionary complex. Compared to other convergent lakes in major mountain ranges, such as Lake Baikal, Lake Van is not well studied, its geophysical characteristics are poorly documented and understood. An overall understanding of this lake as a complex highlands system is still lacking. This lack assumes utmost importance given the fact that Lake Van and surrounding highlands are prone to thinning convergent crust, decompressional melting magmatism and post-collisional opening of sutures, through which extensional magma propagates. These processes dictate how ascending magmatic materials are transported through the crust toward the surface and react with their surrounding environment within the volcanic or magmatic edifice. A sequential development of these events is focused on understanding the rich dynamics of multiple linked systems with weak basement coupling and with many internal variables that exhibit multiscale interactions beneath the lake. Multi-component approach into basement and basin margin weakening highlights the relative roles of upper crustal tectonics, magmatism and the role of delamination and break off events, just beneath the lake. This generates deep insights into upper crust-driven seismicity and its results in basin response and subsequent impact on anisotropic variability of the convergent crust. The focus and objectives of Lake Van basin research are to provide a better understanding and overview of tectonic and magmatic processes in accretionary orogens and their role in the formation and evolution of the continental crust. Understanding post-collisional dynamics of accretionary wedges beneath Lake Van and their effect on Lake Van basin formation is essentially needed in this study. Multi channel seismic reflection profiles with a length of 850 km across Lake Van basin are collected by International Contiental Scientific Drilling Program, (PaleoVAN 2004 Project). Seismic structural interpretation showed that Plio-Quaternary structural development of the Lake Van basin is the result of two separate stress regimes: a Paleotectonic period of collision-compression and a Neotectonic period of extension/strike-slip deformation. Older structural elements bordering the lake have undergone reactivation as sinistral and dextral strike-slip faults along the basin margins. The consequence of this stress reversal has been tectonic instability of accretionary wedges, a reactivation of convergent basement and a change in kinematic boundary conditions of the lake. As a result, during post-collisional period, Lake Van region has undergone basin block fragmentation and separation, implying an oblique opening of Muş suture, through which extensional magmatism propagated into the lake, intensely deformed lake sediments and created the huge magma-hydrothermal lacustrine system. The oblique opening of suture zone views the Highlands rifting phenomena in Lake Van, especially its S-margin. Based on the above observations, the structural form of the early compressional Lake Van basin is quite different from the present-day basin. An interplay of sedimentation and tectonics in Lake Van provided a new angle on basement reactivation, oblique motion of the upper crustal flakes and the strike-slip evolution of accretionary wedge basins in Turkic-type orogenic setting. Lake Van is the Highlands rifted basin produced by doming asthenosphere, hence, Lake Van basin should be evaluated in a concept of the Highlands dynamics of hot and younger accretionary and Turkic-type orogens. Lastly, Lake Van basin shows tectonics and sedimentary characteristics of the Highlands Turkic type orogeny and thus, opens a new paradigm.&nbsp;Keywords: Extensional mechanism, Turkic-type orogeny, Basement reactivation, Paleotectonics.Sismik yansıma verilerinin yapısal analizi ve yorumlanması Van G&ouml;l&uuml; havzasının batıdaki sınır fayının b&uuml;k&uuml;mlenme g&ouml;sterdiği gerilmeli kenarında geliştiğini g&ouml;stermiştir. Batıdaki transtansiyonel faylanma, transtansiyonel ve doğrultu atımlı sedimentasyon g&ouml;steren merkezi Tatvan havzasının gelişiminde ana kontrol mekanizması olarak davranmıştır. Sınır fayının b&uuml;k&uuml;m aşağı transtansiyonel hareketi aşamalı olarak, batıdaki b&uuml;k&uuml;mden uzağa doğru olmak &uuml;zere yatay bir harekete d&ouml;n&uuml;şm&uuml;şt&uuml;r. Bu yapısal oluşum, merkezi Tatvan havzasında gelişen karakteristik doğrultu atımlı dizilim sekanslarını oluşturmuştur. B&ouml;yle bir yapısallık sonucu oluşan mekansal ve yersel boşluklar, faylanmalar boyunca gelişen doğrultu atımlı harekete ek olarak, hem batı ve g&uuml;ney kenarlardaki lokalize olarak gelişen yatay gerilme ve incelmeyi ve hem de kuzey kenardaki kısalma ve kalınlaşmayı gerektirmiştir. Kuzey marjini boyunca gelişen dik faylanma her ne &ouml;l&ccedil;&uuml;de dik olarak gelişebilmişse, fay b&uuml;k&uuml;mlenmesine bağlı olarak gelişen gerilmeyi karşılamak i&ccedil;in gerekli &ccedil;&ouml;kme o derece hızlı ger&ccedil;ekleşmiştir. Fay b&uuml;k&uuml;m yapısının g&ouml;l&uuml;n yapısal gelişiminde oynadığı rol &ouml;yle belirgindir ki, d&uuml;ş&uuml;n&uuml;lmesi gereken, havza asimetrisinin tektonik yapısından &ccedil;ok &ccedil;&ouml;kel merkezinin yatay taşınımına ve doğrultu-atım sedimentasyonuna havza asimetrinin etkisidir. Asimetrik havza yapısı ve g&ouml;l&uuml;n tek y&ouml;nl&uuml; yapısal gelişimi aynı zamanda, g&uuml;ney marjinindeki sağ yanal transtansiyonun, daha &ouml;nce var olan Muş suturunu izlediğini ve var olan tektonik rejimin eski bindirme faylarını reaktive ederek yeniden harekete ge&ccedil;irdiğini g&ouml;stermiştir. Bu bindirme fayları &ccedil;&ouml;kel merkezinin yatay migrasyonunu karşılayabilmek i&ccedil;in oblik olarak, hem gerilmeli ve hem de sıkışmalı bileşenler olarak, atım yapmışlardır.&nbsp;Anahtar Kelimeler: Genişlemeli mekanizma, T&uuml;rkik tipi orojen, temel reaktivasyonu, Paleotektonik d&ouml;nem

Growth of probiotic bacteria in trypticase phytone yeast medium supplemented with crude polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum.

Ganoderma lucidum is a fungus usually used in traditional Chinese medicine. The high value of G. lucidum is related to its polysaccharides content. Crude polysaccharides from G. lucidum (GLCP) were obtained using hot water extraction method. There is about 0.57 g of GLCP in 1 g crude of G. lucidum. The prebiotic potential of GLCP was tested against probiotic bacteria namely: Bifidobacterium longum BB536, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum G4, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei Shirota. The prebiotic potentials were studied in 10 mL basal Trypticase Phytone Yeast (abbreviated as bTPY) medium (without glucose) supplemented with various concentrations of GLCP (abbreviated as bTPYglcp) (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0%). bTPY medium supplemented with glucose (abbreviated as bTPYglu) and inulin (abbreviated bTPYinu) were used as comparison. Viable cell counts of the bacteria and the pH of the medium were determined during anaerobic incubation period of 0 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h at 37 °C. In the presence of carbohydrate source, cultures showed various degree of growth increment. With regards to the growth supporting property: bTPYglu, bTPYglu+glcp, bTPYglcp and bTPYinu were ranked first, second, third and fourth respectively. Interestingly, in bTPYglcp medium, bacterial growth increased with increasing GLCP concentrations when incubated until 24 h. B. longum BB536 was ranked first (10.53 log cfu/mL) in term of their growth in this medium. Growth of B. pseudocatenulatum G4 was ranked second with 10.40 log cfu/mL. This study shows that, GLCP could support the growth of the bacteria tested

Analyzing Flow Cytometry or Targeted Gene Expression Data Influences Clinical Discoveries—Profiling Blood Samples of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Patients

Introduction:Monitoring the therapeutic response of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients is crucial to determine treatment strategies. Several studies have examined the effectiveness of FOLFIRINOX as a first-line treatment in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, but little attention has been paid to the immunologic alterations in peripheral blood caused by this chemotherapy regimen. Furthermore, the influence of the measurement type (e.g., flow cytometry and targeted gene expression) on the clinical discoveries is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to scrutinize the influence of using flow cytometry or targeted immune gene expression to study the immunological changes in blood samples of PDAC patients who were treated with a single-cycle FOLFIRINOX combined with lipegfilgrastim (FFX-Lipeg). Material and Methods: Whole-blood samples from 44 PDAC patients were collected at two time points: before the first FOLFIRINOX cycle and 14 days after the first cycle. EDTA blood tubes were used for multiplex flow cytometry analyses to quantify 18 immune cell populations and for complete blood count tests as the standard clinical routine. The flow cytometry data were analyzed with FlowJo software. In addition, Tempus blood tubes were used to isolate RNA and measure 1230 immune-related genes using NanoString Technology®. Data quality control, normalization, and analysis were performed using nSolver™ software and the Advanced Analysis module. Results: FFX-Lipeg treatment increased the number of neutrophils and monocytes, as shown by flow cytometry and complete blood count in concordance with elevated gene expression measured via targeted gene expression profiling analysis. Interestingly, flow cytometry analysis showed an increase in the number of B and T cells after treatment, while targeted gene expression analysis showed a decrease in B and T cell-specific gene expression. Conclusions: Targeted gene expression complements flow cytometry analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of FFX-Lipeg. Flow cytometry and targeted gene expression showed increases in neutrophils and monocytes after FFX-Lipeg. The number of lymphocytes is increased after treatment; nevertheless, their cell-specific gene expression levels are downregulated. This highlights that different techniques influence clinical discoveries. Therefore, it is important to carefully select the measurement technique used to study the effect of a treatment.</p

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Brain Metastasis: The Link between Molecular Mechanisms and Novel Therapeutic Approaches

The prognosis of patients suffering from non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) worsens significantly when brain metastasis occurs. Seeding to the brain usually happens relatively early in the course of disease and therefore, new therapies anticipating this complication would result in considerable improvement in outcomes. In this review, we address recent molecular data of NSCLC with a focus on the risk of the formation of brain metastasis. Included is new data on the involvement of miRNAs and lncRNAs in the rise of the cerebral seeding of NSCLC. We summarize novel therapeutic approaches developed in the light of these recent molecular discoveries

Effect of Curing Profile on Kaolin-based Geopolymers

AbstractDepending on the processing conditions, geopolymers can exhibit a wide variety of properties and characteristics. Curing profile serves as a crucial parameter in synthesis of geopolymers. In this paper, the influence of curing temperature and curing time on the properties of kaolin-based geopolymer was studied. The samples were separated into several curing conditions; including curing at ambient temperature, 40°C, 60°C, 80°C and 100°C for 1 day, and up to 3 days. The compressive strength and SEM analysis of geopolymer products were evaluated. Results showed that curing condition has a significant effect on the mechanical properties of kaolin-based geopolymer. Generally, curing at ambient temperature was not feasible, while increase in temperature favored the strength development. In addition, prolonged curing time improved the geopolymerization process, and led to higher strength gain. However, curing at high temperature for a long period of time caused failure of the sample at a later age

Phenomenology of Jet Quenching in Heavy Ion Collisions

We derive an analytical expression for the quenching factor in the strong quenching limit where the $p_T$ spectrum of hard partons is dominated by surface emission. We explore the phenomenological consequences of different scaling laws for the energy loss and calculate the additional suppression of the away-side jet.Comment: Substantially modified manuscrip