PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION LEARNING COMPETENCY OF GENERAL EDUCATION SUBJECT OF STUDENTS IN PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION (HEI)

The study aims to examine the assessment of purposive communication learning competency of the General Education Subject of student respondents in the area of course expected learning outcome, core competency, student-centered teaching and learning, and general education principles. Likewise, to identify the delivery mode of teaching purposive communication and learning competency of student respondents in terms of digital literacy, effective communication, critical thinking framework, outcome-based learning, inquiry and collaborative learning, authentic assessment learning, blended learning, and independent learning. The research employs a quantitative research design which utilize random sampling in gathering the sample size to provide equal opportunity for the participants to be included in the study. The study comprised four hundred (400) respondents only. Results show that expected learning outcome explores students' critical thinking, and decision-making through oral presentation such as individual, in pair, group discussion, and small group discussion, core competency shows to present different purposes in the learning process for students as center of learning through proper teaching inside the classroom, student-centered teaching and learning shows to play a role in purposive communication and demands for the improved skills of students in both soft and hard skills, and general education principles allow students to actively and interactively participate in the discussion intended for the learning activity, reaction, reflection on the issues, and process of teaching and appreciation. Similarly, the delivery mode of teaching in terms of digital literacy, effective communication, and critical thinking framework enhances to identify the needs of the learners content and reliable sources of materials and relevant information for teaching and learning, outcome-based learning shows to establish a standard challenging performance on student engagement learning success and ideas, inquiry and collaborative learning promotes classroom and instill independence value of cooperative learning in a class dynamic teaching, authentic assessment learning shows to monitor and observe students on participation progress of learning process assessment, blended learning shows to adopt the concept that caters the challenges and needs of the learners in the newest trends of teaching, and independent learning shows to create a sense of learning for students in building essential relationship learning process and outcome. Findings show that there is a significant correlation between the assessment of purposive communication learning competency of the General Education Subject of student respondents and the delivery mode of teaching purposive communication and learning competency.  Article visualizations

RESEARCH CAPABILITY OF TEACHING AND NON-TEACHING PERSONNEL OF UNIVERSIDAD DE MANILA FOR RESEARCH MANAGEMENT COURSE CERTIFICATE PLAN

The paper aims to investigate the research capability of teaching and non-teaching personnel of Universidad De Manila. A descriptive survey research design is utilized in the study to quantify and measure the research capability of teaching and non-teaching personnel for the research management course plan. Likewise, purposive sampling is employed in selecting the sample size of the population. The study comprised One Hundred (100) respondents only. Results show that teaching personnel are capable and can do the task independently in identifying or recognizing researchable problems, preparing the rationale of the study and finding related literature on the research topic, show that non-teaching personnel are capable and can do the task independently in identifying or recognizing researchable problems, gathering of data according to the nature of the study. Findings show that there is no significant difference between the teaching and non-teaching personnel when it comes to research capability as observed by the respondents.  Article visualizations

Lower prevalence of congenital cytomegalovirus infection in Portugal: possible impact of COVID-19 lockdown?

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most frequent cause of congenital infection all over the world. Its prevalence ranges from 0.2 to 2.2%. Transmission from children to their pregnant mothers is a well-known risk factor, particularly if they attend a childcare centre. This study aims to compare the prevalence of CMV congenital infection (CMV_CI) in Portugal (Lisbon) between two studies, performed respectively in 2019 and 2020. In the 2019 study, performed in two hospitals, we found a 0.67% CMV_CI prevalence, using a pool strategy previously tested with saliva samples. In the 2020 study, using the same pool approach in four hospitals (the previous and two additional), and based on 1277 samples, the prevalence was 0.078%.Conclusion: The close temporal coincidence with COVID-19 lockdown suggests that these measures may have had a significant impact on this reduction, although other explanations cannot be ruled-out. What is Known: • Cytomegalovirus is the leading cause of congenital infection. • Behavioural measures decrease cytomegalovirus seroconversion in pregnant women. What is New: • From 2019 to 2020 there was a significant reduction in the prevalence of congenital CMV infection.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prevention and contrast of child abuse and neglect in the practice of European paediatricians: a multi-national pilot study

Background: Child abuse and neglect, or maltreatment, is a serious public health problem, which may cause long-term effects on children's health and wellbeing and expose them to further adulthood vulnerabilities. Studies on child maltreatment performed in Europe are scarce, and the number of participants enrolled relatively small. The aim of this multi-national European pilot study, was to evaluate the level of understanding and perception of the concepts of child abuse and neglect by European paediatricians working in different medical settings, and the attitude toward these forms of maltreatment in their practice. Methods: The study was performed by a cross-sectional, descriptive, online survey, made available online to European paediatricians members of 50 national paediatric, who belonged to four different medical settings: hospital, family care, university centres and private practice. The questionnaire, designed as a multiple choice questions survey, with a single answer option consisted of 22 questions/statements. Frequency analyses were applied. Most of the data were described using univariate analysis and Chi-squared tests were used to compare the respondents and answers and a significance level of p ≤ 0.05 applied. Results: Findings show that European paediatricians consider the training on child maltreatment currently provided by medical school curricula and paediatric residency courses to be largely insufficient and continuing education courses were considered of great importance to cover educational gaps. Physical violence was recognized by paediatricians mostly during occasional visits with a significant correlation between detecting abuse during an occasional visit and being a primary care paediatrician. Results also showed a reluctance by paediatricians to report cases of maltreatment to the competent judicial authorities. Conclusions: Data of this study may provide useful contribution to the current limited knowledge about the familiarity of European paediatricians with child maltreatment and their skills to recognize, manage and contrast abusive childhood experiences in their practice. Finally, they could provide local legislators and health authorities with information useful to further improve public health approaches and rules able to effectively address shared risk and protective factors, which could prevent child abuse and neglect from ever occurring

Acquired Resistance to KRAS (G12C) Inhibition in Cancer

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials of the KRAS inhibitors adagrasib and sotorasib have shown promising activity in cancers harboring KRAS glycine-to-cysteine amino acid substitutions at codon 12 (KRAS(G12C)). The mechanisms of acquired resistance to these therapies are currently unknown. METHODS: Among patients with KRAS(G12C) -mutant cancers treated with adagrasib monotherapy, we performed genomic and histologic analyses that compared pretreatment samples with those obtained after the development of resistance. Cell-based experiments were conducted to study mutations that confer resistance to KRAS(G12C) inhibitors. RESULTS: A total of 38 patients were included in this study: 27 with non-small-cell lung cancer, 10 with colorectal cancer, and 1 with appendiceal cancer. Putative mechanisms of resistance to adagrasib were detected in 17 patients (45% of the cohort), of whom 7 (18% of the cohort) had multiple coincident mechanisms. Acquired KRAS alterations included G12D/R/V/W, G13D, Q61H, R68S, H95D/Q/R, Y96C, and high-level amplification of the KRAS(G12C) allele. Acquired bypass mechanisms of resistance included MET amplification; activating mutations in NRAS, BRAF, MAP2K1, and RET; oncogenic fusions involving ALK, RET, BRAF, RAF1, and FGFR3; and loss-of-function mutations in NF1 and PTEN. In two of nine patients with lung adenocarcinoma for whom paired tissue-biopsy samples were available, histologic transformation to squamous-cell carcinoma was observed without identification of any other resistance mechanisms. Using an in vitro deep mutational scanning screen, we systematically defined the landscape of KRAS mutations that confer resistance to KRAS(G12C) inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: Diverse genomic and histologic mechanisms impart resistance to covalent KRAS(G12C) inhibitors, and new therapeutic strategies are required to delay and overcome this drug resistance in patients with cancer. (Funded by Mirati Therapeutics and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03785249.)

Genomic epidemiological analysis of Klebsiella pneumoniae from Portuguese hospitals reveals insights into circulating antimicrobial resistance.

Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) bacteria are an increasing threat to public health and represent one of the most concerning pathogens involved in life-threatening infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). To understand the epidemiology of AMR of Kp in Portugal, we analysed whole genome sequencing, susceptibility testing and other meta data on 509 isolates collected nationwide from 16 hospitals and environmental settings between years 1980 and 2019. Predominant sequence types (STs) included ST15 (n = 161, 32%), ST147 (n = 36, 7%), ST14 (n = 26, 5%) or ST13 (n = 26, 5%), while 31% of isolates belonged to STs with fewer than 10 isolates. AMR testing revealed widespread resistance to aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins and carbapenems. The most common carbapenemase gene was blaKPC-3. Whilst the distribution of AMR linked plasmids appears uncorrelated with ST, their frequency has changed over time. Before year 2010, the dominant plasmid group was associated with the extended spectrum beta-lactamase gene blaCTX-M-15, but this group appears to have been displaced by another carrying the blaKPC-3 gene. Co-carriage of blaCTX-M and blaKPC-3 was uncommon. Our results from the largest genomics study of Kp in Portugal highlight the active transmission of strains with AMR genes and provide a baseline set of variants for future resistance monitoring and epidemiological studies

Negative feedback regulation of the ERK1/2 MAPK pathway

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway regulates many cellular functions, including proliferation, differentiation, and transformation. To reliably convert external stimuli into specific cellular responses and to adapt to environmental circumstances, the pathway must be integrated into the overall signalling activity of the cell. Multiple mechanisms have evolved to perform this role. In this review, we will focus on negative feedback mechanisms and examine how they shape ERK1/2 MAPK signalling. We will first discuss the extensive number of negative feedback loops targeting the different components of the ERK1/2 MAPK cascade, specifically the direct posttranslational modification of pathway components by downstream protein kinases and the induction of de novo gene synthesis of specific pathway inhibitors. We will then evaluate how negative feedback modulates the spatiotemporal signalling dynamics of the ERK1/2 pathway regarding signalling amplitude and duration as well as subcellular localisation. Aberrant ERK1/2 activation results in deregulated proliferation and malignant transformation in model systems and is commonly observed in human tumours. Inhibition of the ERK1/2 pathway thus represents an attractive target for the treatment of malignant tumours with increased ERK1/2 activity. We will, therefore, discuss the effect of ERK1/2 MAPK feedback regulation on cancer treatment and how it contributes to reduced clinical efficacy of therapeutic agents and the development of drug resistance