Determination of electron donors in the reductive dechlorination of tetrachloroethene

Several substrates, namely fatty acids and alcohols, were used to enhance the reductive microbial dechlorination of PCE to ethene. All of the microcosms amended with the volatile fatty acids (butyrate, succinate, lactate, formate, butyrate/formate mixture and butyrate/succinate mixture) demonstrated complete reductive dechlorination of PCE to ethane. The cultures amended with the butyrate/succinate mixture was the quickest to completely dechlorinate PCE to ethene (49 days). Those amended with butyrate, succinate, formate and the butyrate/formate mixture exhibited complete reductive, dechlorination at 77 days. Microcosms amended with lactate exhibited complete reductive dechlorination at 160 days. The microcosms amended with the alcohols (ethanol, propanol, propanol/ethanol mixture, ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol/butanol mixture) demonstrated less activity than those amended with the volatile fatty acids. Those amended with propanol demonstrated complete reductive dechlorination of PC[ to ethene. Those amended with ethanol, ethylene glycol, butanol/propanol mixture and propanol/ethanol mixture produced incomplete PCE degradation, resulting in the accumulation of cis-DCE and VC. Those amended with ethylene glycol/butanol mixture showed no activity

Intentional discipleship impact : the effects of disciplemaking in the lives of the youth among evangelical churches in Zamboanga City

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/ecommonsatsdissertations/2638/thumbnail.jp

Understanding the Students’ Adversities in the Science Classroom

Science has long been regarded as an important subject in a school curriculum and science teachers play a vital role in the learning process of the students in the science classrooms as well as in other subjects. However, students still encounter problems related to their science teachers, which significantly influence their academic performance in science. Using a qualitative-phenomenological design, an in-depth and systematic analysis of the students’ experiences gathered during the face-to-face interview provided a detailed explanation of the teacher-based adversities in the science classroom. The students who participated in this study revealed that they had encountered various teacher-based adversities, which disrupted and affected their learning and performance in the science classroom. Students experienced having a teacher of limited pedagogical content knowledge in science, and little commitment to teach science in the classroom. Consequently, the students were not encouraged to learn science; they lost interest to learn science as well as they have developed a negative attitude towards their teachers and the subject. In the same manner, the students experienced difficulty in understanding the topic and inability to connect previous information to a new one because of having a teacher of little commitment in the instruction of science. With this, the interested parties such as the teachers, administrators, students can develop appropriate actions to address these problems not only in the science classroom but in the school in general

REVITALIZING RESEARCH IN THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM: INPUTS FOR CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The study aims to find out the experiences and observations of teachers in teaching Research to Junior High School students. In particular, it wants to identify what needs to be enhanced in the research curriculum and faculty development program, particularly in terms of the knowledge and skills of research teachers and the other teachers in the junior high school department. It found out that students consider research a difficult subject that makes them less interested. Research theories and concepts appropriate for junior high school must be identified for curriculum revision. Teachers believed that they need to enhance their knowledge and skills and gain more experience in writing to become creative and confident research teachers. For teachers to be actively engaged in research, they have to be provided with training and workshops related to research and be strongly encouraged to do at least action research. The faculty development program may also include creating research mentors and the provision of opportunities for publicatio

Development and Testing of Braking and Acceleration Features for Vehicle Advanced Driver Assistance System

Traffic congestion is a constant problem for cities worldwide. The human driving inefficiency and poor urban planning and development contribute to traffic buildup and travel discomfort. An example of human inefficiency is the phantom traffic jam, which is caused by unnecessary braking, causing traffic to slow down, and eventually coming to a stop. In this study, a brake and acceleration feature (BAF) for the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) is proposed to mitigate the effects of the phantom traffic phenomenon. In its initial stage, the BAF provides a heads-up display that gives information on how much braking and acceleration input is needed to maintain smooth driving conditions, i.e., without sudden acceleration or deceleration, while observing a safe distance from the vehicle in front. BAF employs a fuzzy logic controller that takes distance information from a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor and the vehicle’s instantaneous speed from the engine control unit (ECU). It then calculates the corresponding percentage value of needed acceleration and braking in order to maintain travel objectives of smooth and safe-distance travel. Empirical results show that the system suggests acceleration and braking values slightly higher than the driver’s actual inputs and can achieve 90% accuracy overall

The Role of Intercultural Communication Competence in Business Collaboration to Develop Start Ups in the Global Era

In this global era, more and more startups are developing their businesses with partners from other regions or countries. However, intercultural cooperation that is not accompanied by intercultural communication competence will often create unresolved conflicts. This research is a qualitative study with a phenomenological approach. In this study, researchers wanted to dig up information about the experiences of informants in developing business partnerships and the difficulties encountered when communicating with business partners from different countries or regions. Data collection was carried out using unstructured interviews so that the informants could be more flexible in sharing their experiences when starting their business development. They can also tell freely about any cultural background conflicts that are often encountered when discussing or communicating with business partners from different cultures. In this study, researchers interviewed 10 informants consisting of start-up actors, who have been in business for more than 5 years and have collaborated with business partners from other regions or countries. This is to dig up information about their experiences when communicating with these business partners and to get data on what obstacles start-ups experience when collaborating with their business partners. The results of this study indicate that Intercultural Communication Competence (ICC), which consists of cognitive, affective and behavioral aspects, is needed by start-ups, especially if they want to develop their business by working with domestic and foreign partners. With the existence of ICC, start-up actors can avoid ethnocentrism, stereotypes and prejudice, as well as language barriers and differences in values

Transparency and Accountability in Local Governance: The Nexus Between Democracy and Public Service Delivery in the Philippines

Transparency effectiveness cannot take place without accountability. Democracy as a form of government necessitates popular support which cannot be given by the people unless trust and confidence to a public institution are maintained. The study discusses the concept of transparency and accountability in the context of a democratic system and its role in enhancing people's trust to public institutions. From the perspective of democracy, the direct link between public service delivery and democracy through the intermediacy of transparency and accountability is established. Keywords: Democracy, transparency and accountability, local governance, popular government, public service delivery, the Philippines DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/9-7-04 Publication date:July 31st 201

Development of PEGylated PLGA nanoparticle for controlled and sustained drug delivery in cystic fibrosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene results in CF. The most common mutation, ΔF508-CFTR, is a temperature-sensitive, trafficking mutant with reduced chloride transport and exaggerated immune response. The ΔF508-CFTR is misfolded, ubiquitinated, and prematurely degraded by proteasome mediated- degradation. We recently demonstrated that selective inhibition of proteasomal pathway by the FDA approved drug PS-341 (pyrazylcarbonyl-Phe-Leuboronate, a.k.a. Velcade or bortezomib) ameliorates the inflammatory pathophysiology of CF cells. This proteasomal drug is an extremely potent, stable, reversible and selective inhibitor of chymotryptic threonine protease-activity. The apprehension in considering the proteasome as a therapeutic target is that proteasome inhibitors may affect proteostasis and consecutive processes. The affect on multiple processes can be mitigated by nanoparticle mediated PS-341 lung-delivery resulting in favorable outcome observed in this study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To overcome this challenge, we developed a nano-based approach that uses drug loaded biodegradable nanoparticle (PLGA-PEG^PS-341) to provide controlled and sustained drug delivery. The <it>in vitro </it>release kinetics of drug from nanoparticle was quantified by proteasomal activity assay from days 1-7 that showed slow drug release from day 2-7 with maximum inhibition at day 7. For <it>in vivo </it>release kinetics and biodistribution, these drug-loaded nanoparticles were fluorescently labeled, and administered to C57BL6 mice by intranasal route. Whole-body optical imaging of the treated live animals demonstrates efficient delivery of particles to murine lungs, 24 hrs post treatment, followed by biodegradation and release over time, day 1-11. The efficacy of drug release in CF mice (<it>Cftr^-/-</it>) lungs was determined by quantifying the changes in proteasomal activity (~2 fold decrease) and ability to rescue the <it>Pseudomonas aeruginosa </it>LPS (<it>Pa</it>-LPS) induced inflammation, which demonstrates the rescue of CF lung disease in murine model.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have developed a novel drug delivery system to provide sustained delivery of CF "correctors" and "anti-inflammatories" to the lungs. Moreover, we demonstrate here the therapeutic efficacy of nano-based proteostasis-modulator to rescue <it>Pa-LPS </it>induced CF lung disease.</p