Overseas and home students’ perspectives towards the implementation of portfolio-based timed-writing technique in composition class

This inquiry addressed students’ perspectives towards the implementation of the Portfolio-Based Timed-Writing Technique (PBTHT) under an international transfer credit (ICT) program at Universitas Muria Kudus. It is to answer the following questions: (1) What are the overseas students’ perspectives towards the PBTHT implementation? (2) How do their perspectives compare to their home counterparts? Using narrative analysis, this study qualitatively revealed that PBTHT is a new technique for overseas students. Their perspectives show their composition strengths cover the use of proper grammar, spelling, and mutually supportive essay elements. Meanwhile, their weaknesses include the content and mechanics. Overseas and home students expressed different perspectives due to different experiences, abilities, and teaching processes in their respective countries. Both groups acknowledged that the PBTHT implementation help them with the improvement of their writing skills

The Effect of Mango Peel on the Growth of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)

Fertilizers are substances containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. They supply nutrients to the soil to improve plant growth and plant productivity. While they may have helped the agriculture sector better their crops, recent studies suggest that common fertilizers adversely affect the environment and human health. Aside from common fertilizers, fruit peels, such as mango peels, also pollute the environment since their accumulation leads to waste disposal issues. To alleviate these issues, researchers proposed the utilization of fruit peels as fertilizers. In this study, mango peels were utilized as fertilizers to identify their effects on the growth of the okra plants by measuring the plant height and comparing the number of leaves. Five (5) pots with two okra seeds were assigned specified amounts of mango peels: 0 g, 1 g, 3 g, 5 g, and 7 g. Plant height and number of leaves were measured every two weeks for two months. The results suggest that varying amounts of applied mango peels affect the growth rate of okra, with 7 g yielding both the highest plant height and highest number of leaves. The results can be attributed to the nutrients of the mango peels, such as potassium and phosphorus, which are included in the three primary nutrients found in common fertilizers

PARENTS’ INVOLVEMENT IN MODULAR DISTANCE LEARNING AND THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF GRADE 6 LEARNERS IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL

Face-to-face classes were temporarily suspended and shifted to modular print learning modality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aimed to determine if there significant difference and relationship between parents’ involvement in modular distance learning and the academic performance of the Grade 6 learners in a public elementary school. The results revealed that parents’ involvement in their child's MDL varies substantially according to their educational attainment and family monthly income. Similarly, the educational attainment of parents and their family's monthly income are predictors of their children's academic achievement. Furthermore, it was disclosed that fathers were more likely than mothers to be involved in the learners' MDL. The findings also revealed that there was a correlation between parents' involvement in modular learning and their children's academic performance. Furthermore, the study supports prior results that parental involvement has a major impact on children's academic achievement. As a result, the researchers urge that parents be heavily involved in modular learning activities and encouraged to participate actively as partners in their children's education. Keywords: Parents’ Involvement, Academic Performance, Modular Learning, Learners

A multi-targeted approach to suppress tumor-promoting inflammation

Cancers harbor significant genetic heterogeneity and patterns of relapse following many therapies are due to evolved resistance to treatment. While efforts have been made to combine targeted therapies, significant levels of toxicity have stymied efforts to effectively treat cancer with multi-drug combinations using currently approved therapeutics. We discuss the relationship between tumor-promoting inflammation and cancer as part of a larger effort to develop a broad-spectrum therapeutic approach aimed at a wide range of targets to address this heterogeneity. Specifically, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, cyclooxygenase-2, transcription factor nuclear factor-κB, tumor necrosis factor alpha, inducible nitric oxide synthase, protein kinase B, and CXC chemokines are reviewed as important antiinflammatory targets while curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, lycopene, and anthocyanins are reviewed as low-cost, low toxicity means by which these targets might all be reached simultaneously. Future translational work will need to assess the resulting synergies of rationally designed antiinflammatory mixtures (employing low-toxicity constituents), and then combine this with similar approaches targeting the most important pathways across the range of cancer hallmark phenotypes

Faultlines and breaking points in Eric Gamalinda\u27s Empire of Memory

This study examines Eric Gamalinda\u27s The Empire of Memory from another perspective in Cultural Materialism with the use of Alan Sinfield\u27s Faultlines: cultural materialism and the politics of dissident reading. The novel is analyzed by means of looking into the faultlines and breaking points that enable dissident reading. This study also explores how creative vandalism is performed in the novel

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in a HIV-positive patient

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection remains a global public health challenge. We report a 40 year old African American male who is a known HIV-positive patient, non-compliant with his antiretrovirals and developed pulmonary tuberculosis. His chief complaints were chronic cough, fever, night sweats and undocumented weight loss. He had a prior positive T-SPOT-TB test; however, chest radiograph and sputum smear examination revealed normal results. PCR-based GeneXPERT MTB/RIF assay was ordered and confirmed MTB infection. The sputum cultures grew MTB and sensitivities showed susceptibility to all primary anti-tuberculosis medications. A delay in diagnosis and initiation of MTB therapy, in the setting of HIV or AIDS, may result in rapid disease progression and worse clinical outcome

MRN-dependent and independent pathways for recruitment of TOPBP1 to DNA double-strand breaks

Ataxia Telangiectasia mutated and RAD3-related (ATR) kinase is activated by DNA replication stress and also by various forms of DNA damage, including DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Recruitment to sites of damage is insufficient for ATR activation as one of two known ATR activators, either topoisomerase II-binding protein (TOPBP1) or Ewing’s tumor-associated antigen 1, must also be present for signaling to initiate. Here, we employ our recently established DSB-mediated ATR activation in Xenopus egg extract (DMAX) system to examine how TOPBP1 is recruited to DSBs, so that it may activate ATR. We report that TOPBP1 is only transiently present at DSBs, with a half-life of less than 10 minutes. We also examined the relationship between TOPBP1 and the MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 (MRN), CtBP interacting protein (CtIP), and Ataxia Telangiectasia mutated (ATM) network of proteins. Loss of MRN prevents CtIP recruitment to DSBs, and partially inhibits TOPBP1 recruitment. Loss of CtIP has no impact on either MRN or TOPBP1 recruitment. Loss of ATM kinase activity prevents CtIP recruitment and enhances MRN and TOPBP1 recruitment. These findings demonstrate that there are MRN-dependent and independent pathways that recruit TOPBP1 to DSBs for ATR activation. Lastly, we find that both the 9-1-1 complex and MDC1 are dispensable for TOPBP1 recruitment to DSBs

HIV-Associated TB Syndemic: A Growing Clinical Challenge Worldwide

The association of tuberculosis (TB) with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) over the past several years has become an emerging syndemic. Approximately 10% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) with latent TB infection will develop active TB disease each year. In this review, we highlight that this phenomenon is not limited to high endemic regions like Afro-Asian nations, but globalization/migration is causing increased case detection even in developed nations such as the United States (US). Active screening should be performed for tuberculosis in PLHIV. A high degree of clinical suspicion for tuberculosis is warranted in PLHIV presenting with fever, cough and unintentional weight loss. HIV-Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) coinfection is often paucibacillary, precluding diagnosis by conventional diagnostics and/or smear-microscopy/culture. Improved detection of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis is now possible by incorporation of the GeneXPERT MTB/RIF assay (Cepheid Inc, Sunnyvale, USA). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends instituting immediate therapy for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in conjunction with ongoing or newly introduced antiretroviral therapy (ART). Vigilance is required to detect drug-induced organ injuries, and early-treatment induced immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). Collaborating MTB and HIV activities in concentrated HIV epidemic settings should become a high public health priority

Tuberculosis reinfection in a pregnant cystic fibrosis patient

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a multisystem disease predominantly affecting the airways and predisposing patients to recurrent infections with various multidrug resistant organisms. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection is rarely seen, but considered a potential pathogen in CF patients. We report a 26 year old pregnant CF patient on Ivacaftor who was admitted with symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis. Three years prior to the current admission, she had completed four drug anti- MTB therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis and was considered cured as her sputum cultures after six months of treatment were negative. Genotype analysis revealed the current MTB strain to be different from the strain causing the previous infection. After receiving first line anti-tuberculous regimen for nine months, the patient's condition markedly improved culminating in an uneventful pregnancy and delivery. To our knowledge, this is the only reported case of reinfection tuberculosis in a CF patient