The Effect of First-Year Experience (FYE) Program on Junior College Students

This paper reports a brief review of the first-year experience (FYE) program implied in three seminar classes at Josai Junior College from April 2020 to January 2021. The program is reimplemented more explicitly and intends to infuse the learning motivation among the management course students to develop competent human skills, with the acquisition of the basic skills integrating into professional learning outcomes. This small periodic study seeks to gather empirical evidence to support and develop the quality of assistance to first-year students during their university and college transition. This study evaluated the FYE effect on students' knowledge, attitude, and behaviour (KAB) after one year for the spring 2020 cohort of first-year students. The ten respondents are grouped into two; group one (5) is the experimental group with participants involved in the FYE program, and group two (5) is the control group with no involvement in the FYE program. Even though the findings showed an overall positive FYE effect on students' knowledge, attitude, and behaviour (KAB), some aspects show no significant difference between the two groups

Recent Progress in Iridium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydrogenation: Tetrasubstituted Olefins and Polyenes

Iridium-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation has become the method of choice to convert prochiral unfunctionalized olefins to optically active compounds. Recently, we reported on applications giving access to more than one stereocenter in a single hydrogenation step. In this account we present recent developments in the hydrogenation of tetrasubstituted unfunctionalized olefins and isoprenoid polyenes, which allow the generation of two stereocenters in a single hydrogenation step

Preliminary assessment on land surface temperature map and slope stability at Jelutong landfill

This project report presents preliminary assessment on land surface temperature (LST) map and slope stabilization of Jelutong landfill. Due to increasing waste produced every day, poor management of waste disposal will create more problem such as health risks and poor quality of environment. A well-designed landfill should be able to contain harmful waste by-products such as leachate, gases and heat from entering the ground or expose to the air and surrounding. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are used to captured aerial view of the landfill and thermal infrared camera is used to detect the infrared range that produced warm objects stand out well against cooler backgrounds. Ground data sampling such as ground temperature also conducted to compare with hot spot detected in LST map. Leakage of gases also detected using gas detector with known concentration. In addition, the stability of landfill slopes is analysed using Slope/W Geostudio software to obtain its factor of safety (FOS). Two type of analysis method are used which are Mongerstern – Price analysis method and simplified Bishop’s method to compare the results. The results obtained, and observation made in this study suggests that the integration of UAV with thermal imaging camera, respectively can be used to address this problem by monitoring the thermal signature of these waste sites and locate hotspots. The certain landfill slope stability is found to be unsafe and need to be avoided

Limitations of a Metabolic Network-Based Reverse Ecology Method for Inferring Host–Pathogen Interactions

Background Host–pathogen interactions are important in a wide range of research fields. Given the importance of metabolic crosstalk between hosts and pathogens, a metabolic network-based reverse ecology method was proposed to infer these interactions. However, the validity of this method remains unclear because of the various explanations presented and the influence of potentially confounding factors that have thus far been neglected. Results We re-evaluated the importance of the reverse ecology method for evaluating host–pathogen interactions while statistically controlling for confounding effects using oxygen requirement, genome, metabolic network, and phylogeny data. Our data analyses showed that host–pathogen interactions were more strongly influenced by genome size, primary network parameters (e.g., number of edges), oxygen requirement, and phylogeny than the reserve ecology-based measures. Conclusion These results indicate the limitations of the reverse ecology method; however, they do not discount the importance of adopting reverse ecology approaches altogether. Rather, we highlight the need for developing more suitable methods for inferring host–pathogen interactions and conducting more careful examinations of the relationships between metabolic networks and host–pathogen interactions

Preliminary assessment on land surface temperature map and slope stability at Jelutong landfill

This project report presents preliminary assessment on land surface temperature (LST) map and slope stabilization of Jelutong landfill. Due to increasing waste produced every day, poor management of waste disposal will create more problem such as health risks and poor quality of environment. A well-designed landfill should be able to contain harmful waste by-products such as leachate, gases and heat from entering the ground or expose to the air and surrounding. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are used to captured aerial view of the landfill and thermal infrared camera is used to detect the infrared range that produced warm objects stand out well against cooler backgrounds. Ground data sampling such as ground temperature also conducted to compare with hot spot detected in LST map. Leakage of gases also detected using gas detector with known concentration. In addition, the stability of landfill slopes is analysed using Slope/W Geostudio software to obtain its factor of safety (FOS). Two type of analysis method are used which are Mongerstern – Price analysis method and simplified Bishop’s method to compare the results. The results obtained, and observation made in this study suggests that the integration of UAV with thermal imaging camera, respectively can be used to address this problem by monitoring the thermal signature of these waste sites and locate hotspots. The certain landfill slope stability is found to be unsafe and need to be avoided

Positive association between serum silicon levels and bone mineral density in female rats following oral silicon supplementation with monomethylsilanetriol.

UNLABELLED: Observational (epidemiological) studies suggest the positive association between dietary silicon intake and bone mineral density may be mediated by circulating estradiol level. Here, we report the results of a silicon supplementation study in rats that strongly support these observations and suggest an interaction between silicon and estradiol. INTRODUCTION: Epidemiological studies report strong positive associations between dietary silicon (Si) intake and bone mineral density (BMD) in premenopausal women and indicate that the association may be mediated by estradiol. We have tested this possibility in a mixed-gender rodent intervention study. METHODS: Tissue samples were obtained from three groups of 20-week-old Sprague Dawley rats (five males and five females per group) that had been supplemented ad libitum for 90 days in their drinking water with (i) <0.1 mg Si/L (vehicle control), (ii) 115 mg Si/L (moderate dose) or (iii) 575 mg Si/L (high dose). All rats received conventional laboratory feed, whilst supplemental Si was in the form of monomethylsilanetriol, increasing dietary Si intakes by 18 and 99 %, for the moderate- and high-dose groups, respectively. RESULTS: Fasting serum and tissue Si concentrations were increased with Si supplementation (p < 0.05), regardless of gender. However, only for female rats was there (i) a trend for a dose-responsive increase in serum osteocalcin concentration with Si intervention and (ii) strong significant associations between serum Si concentrations and measures of bone quality (p < 0.01). Correlations were weaker or insignificant for tibia Si levels and absent for other serum or tibia elemental concentrations and bone quality measures. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the epidemiological observations that dietary Si positively impacts BMD in younger females, and this may be due to a Si-estradiol interaction. Moreover, these data suggest that the Si effect is mediated systemically, rather than through its incorporation into bone

Chemical stabilization of amorphous peat via cement and fly ash with lime

Organic soil such as peat is a very problematic soil and poor in strength. However previous researches have proved that the compressive strength of peat can be improved by using various method of soil improvement including chemical stabilization method. Due to that, the aim of this study is to improve the compressive strength of amorphous peat, various water to additive ratio were used to obtain the optimum Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) value. In this study, peat samples were collected in Jalan Kampung Meranek, Samarahan and mixed at its natural moisture contents with cement and fly ash plus lime at different water additive ratios of 3.0 and 3.5. The compressive strength of the sample was obtained by Unconfined Compressive Strength Test (UCS) and analyzed

Antroquinonol Exerts Immunosuppressive Effect on CD8 +

Antroquinonol was investigated as antioxidant and inhibition of inflammatory responses. Our study was to evaluate its immunosuppressive effect on CD8+ T cells and protective effect on depigmentation. CD8+ T cells were treated with antroquinonol in vitro, and C57BL/6 mice were treated with antroquinonol with or without H2O2 in vivo for 50 consecutive days. We found antroquinonol could inhibit proliferation of CD8+ T cells and suppress the production of cytokines IL-2 and IFN-γ and T cell activation markers CD69 and CD137 in vitro. H2O2 treatment induced depigmentation and reduced hair follicle length, skin thickness, and tyrosinase expression in vivo. Whereas, antroquinonol obviously ameliorated depigmentation of mice skin and resisted the reduction of hair follicle length, skin thickness, and tyrosinase expression induced by H2O2. Antroquinonol decreased CD8+ T cell infiltration in mice skin, inhibited the production of IL-2 and IFN-γ, and decreased the expression of CXCL10 and CXCR3. Summarily, our data shows antroquinonol inhibits CD8+ T cell proliferation in vitro. It also reduces CD8+ T cell infiltration and proinflammatory cytokine secretion and suppresses the thinning of epidermal layer in vivo. Our findings suggest that antroquinonol exerts immunosuppressive effects on CD8+ T cell proliferation and activation to resist depigmentation induced by H2O2

MAKNA SIMBOLIK TRADISI AYAM BAKAKAK PADA ADAT PERKAWINAN SUKU SUNDA DI KELURAHAN DATARAN KEMPAS KECAMATAN TEBING TINGGI KABUPATEN TANJUNG JABUNG BARAT

Penelitian ini membahas tentang Makna Simbolik Ayam Bakakak yang erat kaitannya dengan tradisi suatu masyarakat setempat terutama dalam hal aktifitas sosial yaitu salah satunya tentang Makna Simbolik Tradisi Ayam Bakakak Pada Adat Perkawina Suku Sunda, oleh karena itu makanan tradisional memiliki fonemena lokal. Makanan tradisional masuk kedalam kelompok folklor bukan lisan yaitu folklor yang berupa benda dan ada bentuknya. Tujuan penelitian ini ialah mendeskripsikan tentang Makna Simbolik Tradisi Ayam Bakakak Pada Adat Perkawinan Suku Sunda Di Kelurahan Dataran Kempas Kecamatan Tebing Tinggi Kabupaten Tanjung Jabung Barat. Khususnya bagaimana prosesi tradisi ayam bakakak, makna simbolik yang terkandung pada Ayam Bakakak dan untuk mengetahui mengapa masyarakat sunda masih mempertahankan Ayam Bakakak dalam proses upacara adat perkawinan suku Sunda di Kelurahan Dataran Kempas. Penelitian ini adalah merupakan penelitian deskriptif kualitatif. Data dikumpulkan melalui observasi, wawancara, dokumentasi dan informan ditentukan menggunakan purposive sampling. Hasil penelitian yang diperoleh berupa pengamatan tak berperan serta (observation non partisipan), artinya peneliti hanya melakukan satu fungsi saja yaitu hanya mengelola dan tidak ikut aktif, di dalam kegiatan ini hanya mengamati dari jauh menggunakan wawancara tak terstuktur agar peneliti dan informan dapat menggunakan pendapatnya yang lebih bebas, serta menggunakan dokumentasi agar data lebih akurat dalam peneletian. Hasil temuan dan pembahasannya adalah Prosesi tradisi sebelum perkawinan neundeun omong (menyimpan ucapan) dan narosan (lamaran). Prosesi tradisi pelaksanaan upacara perkawinan seserahan (prosesi serah terima), ngeuyeuk seureuh, akad nikah. Prosesi tradisi pelaksanaan setelah akad nikah sembah sungkem, sawer pengantin, nincag endog dan mencuci kaki suami, meuleum harupat (membakar harupat), huap lingkung dan huap deudeuh dan pabetot bakakak hayam (menarik ayam bakakak). Selain itu Ayam Bakakak mempunyai makna dan simbolik yang berpengaruh untuk pasangan pengantin: Ayam, Telur, Air dan Kendi, Pelita, Beras, Kunyit, Uang Logam atau Uang kertas, Cabe Merah, Bambu, Wadah atau Nampan. Adapun alasan masyarakat masih mempertahankannya yaitu sebagai tanda penghormatan dari keluarga perumpuan, sebagai identitas budaya lokal dan penghormatan kepada Leluhur/Nenek moyang

（TILT)ニ ヨル ガクセイ ノ コミュニケーション ノウリョク ノ コウジョウ コウカ ； トランスゲージ ノ トリクミ

This article will discuss one of the English language teaching methodology, Translation, the arguments on its effects on foreign language learning; the pro and cons of using translation edpecially on the Japanese students .The new term of "Translanguaging" will be introduced with its definition and practice.The background of the English language education and the current situatiion in Japan will also be briefly disucussed, followed by the research questions, methodology and tasks conducted in this study. The discussion will be concluded with the discussions and further study plan