TEACHERS’ UNDERSTANDING OF CURRICULUM ADAPTATION FOR LEARNERS WITH MODERATE INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY IN ZAMBIA

In recent years, curriculum adaptation in education has received consideration attention, as reflected in the viewpoints and guidelines in policies and practice in education. It is believed to have the potential of providing opportunities to learners to access quality education. Curriculum adaptation itself, involves differentiation in learning content and instructions, aimed at aiding learners learning. The study explored teachers’ understanding of curriculum adaptation involving learners with moderate intellectual disabilities in Zambian primary schools. An interpretive phenomenological design supported by qualitative approaches was used. The sample size involved 15 special education teachers. An expert purposive sampling technique was used in to select participants. Data was collected using an in-depth interview guide. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The study revealed mixed views on teachers’ knowledge on curriculum adaptation. While some teachers limited understanding to just modifying content, others saw adaptation beyond adapting subject content. They believed adaptation to include; adjusting instructional strategies, learning resources, and learning environment as well as collaboration with other stakeholders such as parents and relevant professionals to make learners learn. The study also, revealed that although some teachers did not quite comprehend it, those who did so, showed understanding through the ability to: modify instructional strategies; adjust learning materials; simplify learning content and adjusted the learning environment and provision of extra time for learning and assessment time learners learn. Teachers’ understanding, however, was punctuated by several gaps: ill-preparedness of teachers, long periods of class preparation, limited base resources for adaptation and unwillingness of stakeholders to participate. The study recommends, upgrading teachers’ understanding and skills on curriculum adaptation practices through in-house training.  Article visualizations

BIOACTIVE AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF FISH PROTEIN HYDROLYSATE FROM LEIOGNATHUS BINDUS

Objective: The present work is focused on the production of biologically active protein hydrolysate from low value by-catch fish, Leiognathus bindus;this will be an ideal approach to exploit the underutilized fish to develop a highly nutritious bioactive product. Moreover, fish protein hydrolysateshave a broad spectrum of applications ranging from high-value peptones to food ingredients with special functional properties.Methods: The protein hydrolysate was prepared from L. bindus through acidic autolysis processes. The proximate composition, physico-functional,and biochemical properties of hydrolysate and control samples were characterized by standard protocols. Molecular profiling was done by sodiumdodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis performed to identify the essential aminoacid composition in protein hydrolysate.Results: The results of this study reveals that the protein hydrolysate obtained from the trash fish has relatively high protein (71.01±0.2%) and lowlipid (1.57±0.1%) content. The molecular analysis shows low molecular weight peptides are obtained in the hydrolyzed samples which indicate highprotein solubility confirmed to have the potential application as an ingredient in the balanced human diet. The chemical score of the hydrolysateindicates that it fulfills adult human nutritional requirements.Conclusion: This approach also offers the relatively simple and cost-effective process to improve the nutritional characteristics and functional properties of foodstuff, also an opportunity for the conversion of waste fish resources to nutritious products, that can be used in food and pharmaceutical industries.Keywords: Protein hydrolysate, Emulsifying property, Bioactive, Peptides, Amino acid, Chemical score

Attitude of Patients towards Anaesthesia: Comparing the Use of a Single Consent for Anaesthesia versus the Combined Surgical and Anaesthetic Consent.

Anaesthesiology is a specialty which is less well known and the public usually have little knowledge regarding anaesthesia and the roles of Anaesthesiologist. Many hospitals now use a single dedicated consent for anaesthesia. This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of a single consent for anaesthesia with the combined surgical and anaesthetic consent. A total of 109 patients, scheduled for elective surgery requiring anaesthesia were interviewed with a standardised questionnaire. Patients were divided into two groups, where one group used a single anaesthetic consent while the other used a combined surgical and anaesthetic consent. A single consent for anaesthesia was found to be more effective than the current combined surgical and anaesthetic consent (p<0.05). Regarding information about anaesthesia, 89.91% respondents agreed that the Anaesthesiologist should tell them all material risks of anaesthesia, no matter how serious it is and 81.65% respondents would like to meet Anaesthesiologist every time prior to the operation. In terms of knowledge, 94.5% patients recognized that Anaesthesiologist is the one who delivers anaesthesia during surgery. However, patients had little knowledge regarding the extended roles of Anaesthesiologist. The present study confirmed that a single consent for anaesthesia was better than the current combined surgical and anaesthetic consent

Evaluation of Available Medical Interpretation Resources Available to Spanish-Speaking Patients in NJ AHEC Counties

According to the US Census Bureau Spanish is the most common non-English language spoken in the US. Despite the growing population of Spanish-speaking individuals, most healthcare providers can only communicate in English. Linguistic differences between patients and providers have been identified to impact the quality of care received, therefore, it is not surprising that Spanish-speaking patients have been found to be less satisfied with healthcare. Language barriers in healthcare lead to poor compliance and underuse of services which eventually negatively impact health outcomes. Several studies found that the most effective communication tools are often underutilized, with healthcare providers relying on untrained interpreters instead, oftentimes leading to medical errors, incorrect treatment and misdiagnosis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the availability of interpretation services offered by New Jersey healthcare providers in Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Salem, and Cumberland County and increase awareness of interpretation services available in these healthcare settings

Survival Outcomes After High-dose Chemotherapy and Stem Cell Transplantation in the Salvage Setting for Relapsed or Refractory Germ Cell Cancers

© 2020 The Author(s). The unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium of CGP articles for academic reasons is allowed, provided that the original work is properly cited.Background/Aim: High-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and stem cell transplantation (SCT) have been established as the standard of care in patients with relapsed germ cell tumours (GCTs). We evaluated the safety, efficacy and tolerability of HDCT/ SCT in patients with relapsed GCTs. Patients and Methods: Twenty-eight patients with relapsed GCTs, treated with HDCT, were included in this study. The conditioning regime was carboplatin, etoposide, cyclophosphamide and paclitaxel. Clinical, radiological imaging and tumour markers determined treatment outcomes. Results: Median age was 35 years (range=21-57 years) with 26 males and 2 females. Median time to first relapse was 6 months. Median time to progression after 2nd line chemotherapy was 17.3 months. Fourteen patients had peripheral neurotoxicity (≥Grade 2) (50%), 4 patients developed renal failure, 5 had ototoxicity (≥Grade 2) and 1 patient developed acute myeloid leukaemia. Median survival was 62 months and 16 patients (57%) are in clinical follow-up with surveillance. Conclusion: In relapsed GCT patients, median survival may exceed 5 years post-HDCT and SCT.Peer reviewe

Expression capable library for studies of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, version 1.0

Background The sexually transmitted disease, gonorrhea, is a serious health problem in developed as well as in developing countries, for which treatment continues to be a challenge. The recent completion of the genome sequence of the causative agent, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, opens up an entirely new set of approaches for studying this organism and the diseases it causes. Here, we describe the initial phases of the construction of an expression-capable clone set representing the protein-coding ORFs of the gonococcal genome using a recombination-based cloning system. Results The clone set thus far includes 1672 of the 2250 predicted ORFs of the N. gonorrhoeae genome, of which 1393 (83%) are sequence-validated. Included in this set are 48 of the 61 ORFs of the gonococcal genetic island of strain MS11, not present in the sequenced genome of strain FA1090. L-arabinose-inducible glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-fusions were constructed from random clones and each was shown to express a fusion protein of the predicted size following induction, demonstrating the use of the recombination cloning system. PCR amplicons of each ORF used in the cloning reactions were spotted onto glass slides to produce DNA microarrays representing 2035 genes of the gonococcal genome. Pilot experiments indicate that these arrays are suitable for the analysis of global gene expression in gonococci. Conclusion This archived set of Gateway® entry clones will facilitate high-throughput genomic and proteomic studies of gonococcal genes using a variety of expression and analysis systems. In addition, the DNA arrays produced will allow us to generate gene expression profiles of gonococci grown in a wide variety of conditions. Together, the resources produced in this work will facilitate experiments to dissect the molecular mechanisms of gonococcal pathogenesis on a global scale, and ultimately lead to the determination of the functions of unknown genes in the genome

Epidemiology of COVID-19 outbreak in Ghana, 2020

Coronaviruses are RNA viruses that cause respiratory, hepatic and neurological diseases in domestic and wild animals, and humans. Among humans, six species of coronavirus have been identified to cause disease. Among these, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) are of zoonotic origin and have been known to cause severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreaks among humans

Neutralization potency of monoclonal antibodies recognizing dominant and subdominant epitopes on SARS-CoV-2 Spike is impacted by the B.1.1.7 variant

Interaction of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike receptor binding domain (RBD) with the receptor ACE2 on host cells is essential for viral entry. RBD is the dominant target for neutralizing antibodies, and several neutralizing epitopes on RBD have been molecularly characterized. Analysis of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants has revealed mutations arising in the RBD, N-terminal domain (NTD) and S2 subunits of Spike. To understand how these mutations affect Spike antigenicity, we isolated and characterized >100 monoclonal antibodies targeting epitopes on RBD, NTD, and S2 from SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals. Approximately 45% showed neutralizing activity, of which ∼20% were NTD specific. NTD-specific antibodies formed two distinct groups: the first was highly potent against infectious virus, whereas the second was less potent and displayed glycan-dependant neutralization activity. Mutations present in B.1.1.7 Spike frequently conferred neutralization resistance to NTD-specific antibodies. This work demonstrates that neutralizing antibodies targeting subdominant epitopes should be considered when investigating antigenic drift in emerging variants

RABIES IN A SET OF EIGHT-WEEK OLD PUPPIES IN NIGERIA: THE NEED FOR REVIEW OF CURRENT DOG ANTIRABIES VACCINATION SCHEDULE

Background: Rabies is endemic in Nigeria with clinical cases reported mainly in dogs and occasionally in livestock from all the geo-ecological zones of the country. Detection of rabies virus antigen in puppies at the age of five to ten weeks and in apparently healthy dogs shedding the virus in their saliva have been reported in some parts of Nigeria. Material and Method: This report describes a clinical rabies in a set of eight weeks old puppies confirmed by antigen detection using the direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT), the direct rapid immunohistochemical test (DRIT), and RT-PCR. Results: it was positive for all test used including the RT-PCR which amplified at 750 bp from the gel electrophoresis. Conclusion: Occurrence of rabies in puppies of this age, within which they are acquired and owned by other unsuspecting members of the public, is of grave public health consequences. People that love puppies, especially children, who are fond of carrying and playing with them, are also faced with the risk of exposure to rabies. Consequently, review of the existing dog antirabies vaccination schedule at twelve weeks of age in Nigeria, is recommended to ensure effective immunization of this age group of dogs and for the overall safety of the vulnerable members of the public

Introduction and utilization of high priced HCV medicines across Europe; implications for the future

Background: Infection with the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a widespread transmittable disease with a diagnosed prevalence of 2.0%. Fortunately, it is now curable in most patients. Sales of medicines to treat HCV infection grew 2.7% per year between 2004 and 2011, enhanced by the launch of the protease inhibitors (PIs) boceprevir (BCV) and telaprevir (TVR) in addition to ribavirin and pegylated interferon (pegIFN). Costs will continue to rise with new treatments including sofosbuvir, which now include interferon free regimens. de Bruijn et al. HCV Medicines Objective: Assess the uptake of BCV and TVR across Europe from a health authority perspective to offer future guidance on dealing with new high cost medicines. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study of medicines to treat HCV (pegIFN, ribavirin, BCV and TVR) among European countries from 2008 to 2013. Utilization measured in defined daily doses (DDDs)/1000 patients/quarter (DIQs) and expenditure in Euros/DDD. Health authority activities to influence treatments categorized using the 4E methodology (Education, Engineering, Economics and Enforcement). Results: Similar uptake of BCV and TVR among European countries and regions, ranging from 0.5 DIQ in Denmark, Netherlands and Slovenia to 1.5 DIQ in Tayside and Catalonia in 2013. However, different utilization of the new PIs vs. ribavirin indicates differences in dual vs. triple therapy, which is down to factors including physician preference and genotypes. Reimbursed prices for BCV and TVR were comparable across countries. Conclusion: There was reasonable consistency in the utilization of BCV and TVR among European countries in comparison with other high priced medicines. This may reflect the social demand to limit the transmission of HCV. However, the situation is changing with new curative medicines for HCV genotype 1 (GT1) with potentially an appreciable budget impact. These concerns have resulted in different prices across countries, with their impact on budgets and patient outcomes monitored in the future to provide additional guidance