Foreign Language Learning Strategy Use & Gender: The Case of Birzeit University Students

The current study aimed at investigating the use of foreign language learning strategies among 178 students at Birzeit University enrolled in the English Communication course of B2, 2203. Besides, the study examined the relationship between participants’ gender and their foreign language learning strategy use. Oxford’s taxonomy for language learning strategies (1990) was utilized. In this taxonomy, language learning strategies are classified into the following six main categories: cognitive, memory, metacognitive, compensation, social and affective- strategies. A questionnaire comprising Oxford's taxonomy for second language learning strategies (1990) was used as an instrument for surveying the language learning strategies.. The overall strategy used by the whole sample was found to be located in the medium range of strategies used. While metacognitive strategies were reported as the most utilized strategies by the participants. Affective strategies registered the lowest use by them. The results of the t-test indicated no statistically significant difference in the participants’ use of different learning approaches with respect to the gender variable. Conclusions and pedagogical implications of the results were discussed

Foreign Language Learning Strategy Use & Gender: The Case of Birzeit University Students

The current study aimed at investigating the use of foreign language learning strategies among 178 students at Birzeit University enrolled in the English Communication course of B2, 2203. Besides, the study examined the relationship between participants’ gender and their foreign language learning strategy use. Oxford’s taxonomy for language learning strategies (1990) was utilized. In this taxonomy, language learning strategies are classified into the following six main categories: cognitive, memory, metacognitive, compensation, social and affective- strategies. A questionnaire comprising Oxford's taxonomy for second language learning strategies (1990) was used as an instrument for surveying the language learning strategies.. The overall strategy used by the whole sample was found to be located in the medium range of strategies used. While metacognitive strategies were reported as the most utilized strategies by the participants. Affective strategies registered the lowest use by them. The results of the t-test indicated no statistically significant difference in the participants’ use of different learning approaches with respect to the gender variable. Conclusions and pedagogical implications of the results were discussed

Cardiac myosin binding protein C phosphorylation in cardiac disease

Perturbations in sarcomeric function may in part underlie systolic and diastolic dysfunction of the failing heart. Sarcomeric dysfunction has been ascribed to changes in phosphorylation status of sarcomeric proteins caused by an altered balance between intracellular kinases and phosphatases during the development of cardiac disease. In the present review we discuss changes in phosphorylation of the thick filament protein myosin binding protein C (cMyBP-C) reported in failing myocardium, with emphasis on phosphorylation changes observed in familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by mutations in MYBPC3. Moreover, we will discuss assays which allow to distinguish between functional consequences of mutant sarcomeric proteins and (mal)adaptive changes in sarcomeric protein phosphorylation

Twelve-month observational study of children with cancer in 41 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death. It is unclear whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted childhood cancer mortality. In this study, we aimed to establish all-cause mortality rates for childhood cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the factors associated with mortality. Methods Prospective cohort study in 109 institutions in 41 countries. Inclusion criteria: children <18 years who were newly diagnosed with or undergoing active treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, retinoblastoma, Wilms tumour, glioma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, medulloblastoma and neuroblastoma. Of 2327 cases, 2118 patients were included in the study. The primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality at 30 days, 90 days and 12 months. Results All-cause mortality was 3.4% (n=71/2084) at 30-day follow-up, 5.7% (n=113/1969) at 90-day follow-up and 13.0% (n=206/1581) at 12-month follow-up. The median time from diagnosis to multidisciplinary team (MDT) plan was longest in low-income countries (7 days, IQR 3-11). Multivariable analysis revealed several factors associated with 12-month mortality, including low-income (OR 6.99 (95% CI 2.49 to 19.68); p<0.001), lower middle income (OR 3.32 (95% CI 1.96 to 5.61); p<0.001) and upper middle income (OR 3.49 (95% CI 2.02 to 6.03); p<0.001) country status and chemotherapy (OR 0.55 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.86); p=0.008) and immunotherapy (OR 0.27 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.91); p=0.035) within 30 days from MDT plan. Multivariable analysis revealed laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR 5.33 (95% CI 1.19 to 23.84); p=0.029) was associated with 30-day mortality. Conclusions Children with cancer are more likely to die within 30 days if infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, timely treatment reduced odds of death. This report provides crucial information to balance the benefits of providing anticancer therapy against the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with cancer

The impact of surgical delay on resectability of colorectal cancer: An international prospective cohort study

AIM: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to explore the impact of surgical delays on cancer resectability. This study aimed to compare resectability for colorectal cancer patients undergoing delayed versus non-delayed surgery. METHODS: This was an international prospective cohort study of consecutive colorectal cancer patients with a decision for curative surgery (January-April 2020). Surgical delay was defined as an operation taking place more than 4 weeks after treatment decision, in a patient who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. A subgroup analysis explored the effects of delay in elective patients only. The impact of longer delays was explored in a sensitivity analysis. The primary outcome was complete resection, defined as curative resection with an R0 margin. RESULTS: Overall, 5453 patients from 304 hospitals in 47 countries were included, of whom 6.6% (358/5453) did not receive their planned operation. Of the 4304 operated patients without neoadjuvant therapy, 40.5% (1744/4304) were delayed beyond 4 weeks. Delayed patients were more likely to be older, men, more comorbid, have higher body mass index and have rectal cancer and early stage disease. Delayed patients had higher unadjusted rates of complete resection (93.7% vs. 91.9%, P = 0.032) and lower rates of emergency surgery (4.5% vs. 22.5%, P < 0.001). After adjustment, delay was not associated with a lower rate of complete resection (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.90-1.55, P = 0.224), which was consistent in elective patients only (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.69-1.27, P = 0.672). Longer delays were not associated with poorer outcomes. CONCLUSION: One in 15 colorectal cancer patients did not receive their planned operation during the first wave of COVID-19. Surgical delay did not appear to compromise resectability, raising the hypothesis that any reduction in long-term survival attributable to delays is likely to be due to micro-metastatic disease

Pivotal Role of Both TNF-α 238G/A and TCF7L2 C/T Gene Polymorphisms in Type 2 Diabetes: Pivotal role of both TNFα 238G/A and TCF7L2 C/T gene polymorphisms in Type 2 Diabetes

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) studies in the promoter region of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α (238)) have suggested its role in increased insulin resistance and also in the progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes (T2DM). It has been reported that genetic variations in the promoter region regulate TNF-α production and transcription, and they influence susceptibility to inflammatory-related diseases. Impairment of normal functioning of the β-cells of pancreatic islets is one of the main causative factors for the suppression of insulin secretion. TNF-α is among the main stimuli that induce the inflammation in pancreatic islets which lead to the induction of apoptosis in β-cells of pancreatic islets. Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene has been found to be one of the most risky genes for prediabetes and progression toT2DM. However, the underlying mechanism of this is still unknown. This is a review article demonstrating the possible mechanisms of both TNF-α G/A 238 and TCF7L2 C/T gene polymorphisms in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus