Collaborative and Reflective Practices Through Project Approach in Early Childhood Education

The role of collaborative and reflective practices is significant as they help improve teaching and learning in today's technologically dependent environment. This article aims to present and discuss an explorative study on early childhood educational practices of employing the Project Approach (PA) to demonstrate the collaborative work between researchers and practitioners as well as the reflective practices. The study employed an Action Research design involving the researcher, two preschool teachers, and six children. Data were gathered through observations, interview and reflective journals. Four objectives were set according to the phases of an action research to: i) observe the existing teaching and learning practices; ii) train teachers to be critical reflectors; iii) do a simulation of project work with children at the fieldwork, and iv) critically reflect the collaborative practice in PA. Findings observed the collaboration and reflective practices between the researcher and the teachers transformed the teacher centered approach to a more child-centered as more opportunity for adult-children interactions were provided. The teachers became more responsive towards the children's needs. It can be concluded that with the right methods and tools provided in the training of teachers, teaching practices can be altered to enhance learning

Detection of glutamate released by neurons with an enzyme-based microelectrode: applications and limitations

International audienc

Relationship between the level of cohesiveness and the level of performance of staff nurses at De La Salle University Medical Center

Descriptive correlational method was used. The respondents were staff nurses of DLSUMC selected using purposive sampling technique who have varying ages, either male or female and with at least one (1) year in the nursing service regardless of the area they were stationed at. Survey questionnaire was used as the research instrument. Data was analyzed through frequency distribution, percentage distribution, mean, Pearson’s r, f-test or Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and t-test. The study concluded that, 1) Majority of the staff nurses were 21-25 years old, female, and have been serving the institution for at least 1-3 years; 2) On the average, the mean level of cohesiveness demonstrated by the staff nurses was moderately strong; 3) On the average, the mean level of performance demonstrated by the staff nurses was very satisfactory; 4) There was no significant relationship between the level of cohesiveness and gender of the respondents; 5) There was no significant difference in the level of performance of staff nurses when grouped according to age, gender, and tenure; 6) There was a significant relationship between the level of cohesiveness and the level of performance of staff nurses at DLSUMC. Cohesiveness allows open communications and strengthening the bond between the staff nurses, which instigates continuous flow of work. A unified group brings a calm atmosphere and a relaxed working environment, which enhances patient care

Dynamic Analysis of the Normal Tricuspid Annulus Using 3D Echocardiography

Purpose: Changes in the geometry of the normal tricuspid annulus (TA) throughout the cardiac cycle, as assessed by three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3DTTE), have not been extensively described. The goal of this study was to characterize normal TA dynamics as a basis for a better understanding of tricuspid valve (TV) pathology. Methods:Westudied 98 subjects (45+15 years, range 19-80 years, BSA 1.81+0.22m2, 44 men) with normal TV who underwent 3DTTE full volume imaging of the right ventricle (RV) from the apical 4-chamber view (Philips, iE33 and GE Vivid E9) at 2 University Hospitals. All study subjects had a normal 2DTTE study, RV systolic pressure ≤35 mmHg and RV ejection fraction ¼ 55+7% (TomTec 4D RV software). Measurements were made (QLAB 9.0, Philips and EchoPAC BT 12, GE) of the TA area, antero-posterior (AP) and septal-lateral (SL) TA dimensions at the onset of systole (closure of the TV), endsystole (prior to TV opening), mid-systole (mid-point between onset and end-systole), early-diastole (initial TV leaflet opening) and late-diastole (TV opening after atrial contraction). Results:MeanTAareaanddimensions varied throughout the cardiac cycle (Table), being the largest in late-diastole and smallest at the onset of systole. TA fractional area change was38%.TAAPdimensionwaslarger than theSLdimension throughout the cardiac cycle (fig.A). Fractional changes in AP and SL dimensions were 23% and 18%, respectively. No significant differences were noted between genders (fig.B) or age groups. Conclusions:NormalTAis ahighly dynamicstructure andthis has important implications for its sizing. Customized software to characterize TA remodeling and dynamics throughout the entire cardiac cycle is needed for a better understanding of TV pathology

Dynamic Analysis of the Normal Tricuspid Annulus Using 3D Echocardiography

Purpose: Changes in the geometry of the normal tricuspid annulus (TA) throughout the cardiac cycle, as assessed by three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3DTTE), have not been extensively described. The goal of this study was to characterize normal TA dynamics as a basis for a better understanding of tricuspid valve (TV) pathology. Methods:Westudied 98 subjects (45+15 years, range 19-80 years, BSA 1.81+0.22m2, 44 men) with normal TV who underwent 3DTTE full volume imaging of the right ventricle (RV) from the apical 4-chamber view (Philips, iE33 and GE Vivid E9) at 2 University Hospitals. All study subjects had a normal 2DTTE study, RV systolic pressure ≤35 mmHg and RV ejection fraction ¼ 55+7% (TomTec 4D RV software). Measurements were made (QLAB 9.0, Philips and EchoPAC BT 12, GE) of the TA area, antero-posterior (AP) and septal-lateral (SL) TA dimensions at the onset of systole (closure of the TV), endsystole (prior to TV opening), mid-systole (mid-point between onset and end-systole), early-diastole (initial TV leaflet opening) and late-diastole (TV opening after atrial contraction). Results:MeanTAareaanddimensions varied throughout the cardiac cycle (Table), being the largest in late-diastole and smallest at the onset of systole. TA fractional area change was38%.TAAPdimensionwaslarger than theSLdimension throughout the cardiac cycle (fig.A). Fractional changes in AP and SL dimensions were 23% and 18%, respectively. No significant differences were noted between genders (fig.B) or age groups. Conclusions:NormalTAis ahighly dynamicstructure andthis has important implications for its sizing. Customized software to characterize TA remodeling and dynamics throughout the entire cardiac cycle is needed for a better understanding of TV pathology

Comparison Between Four-Chamber and Right Ventricular\u2013Focused Views for the Quantitative Evaluation of Right Ventricular Size and Function

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) function plays a pivotal prognostic role in multiple cardiac diseases. Echocardiography guidelines recommend that RV quantification be performed in the RV-focused view, which is theoretically more reproducible than the four-chamber (4Ch) view. However, differences between views in RV size and function measurements have never been systematically studied. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to compare (1) RV size and function parameters obtained from the RV-focused and 4Ch views and (2) test-retest variability between these two views. METHODS: Fifty patients (26 men; mean age, 63 \ub1 18 years) undergoing clinically indicated transthoracic echocardiography were prospectively enrolled. Each patient underwent three repeated acquisitions of the 4Ch and RV-focused views by two sonographers. The first operator performed two acquisitions at the beginning and the end of the clinical transthoracic echocardiographic study, and the second operator performed the third acquisition afterward. RV size and function measurements were obtained from the two views and compared using paired t-test analysis and Bland-Altman analysis. Intra- and interoperator test-retest and intra- and interreader variability for both views were assessed using intraclass correlations and coefficients of variation. RESULTS: All RV size parameters were significantly larger when measured in the RV-focused view compared with the 4Ch view. Also, all RV function parameters, including RV free wall and global longitudinal strain, were larger in magnitude when measured in the RV-focused view. Measurements variability was consistently better for the RV-focused view. CONCLUSIONS: RV size and function measurements obtained from the RV-focused and 4Ch views are not interchangeable. RV size and function parameters measured from the RV-focused view are more reproducible than from 4Ch acquisitions. Therefore, only the RV-focused view should be used for quantitative assessment of the right ventricle

Value of 3D echocardiography in the diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

Aims: The 2010 Task Force Criteria (TFC) require that both right ventricular (RV) regional wall-motion abnormalities (WMA) and specific RV size cut-offs be met in order to fulfil one of the major criterion for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) diagnosis. Currently, 2D echocardiography (2DE) and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) are used to determine if these criteria are met. Little is known about the diagnostic value of 3D echocardiography (3DE) in ARVC. The aim of this study was to determine whether a combination of 2DE-3DE is non-inferior to the currently used 2DE-cMRI combination in the diagnosis of patients with ARVC. Methods and results: Thirty-nine individuals (47±15 years) with suspected ARVC underwent evaluation of the RV with cMRI, 2DE, and 3DE. 3DE and cMRI were independently used to obtain RV volumes, ejection fraction (EF) and determine the presence of segmental RV WMA. Studies were blindly classified as meeting criteria for ARVC in accordance with the 2010 TFC. Kappa statistics were used to test the concordance between 2DE-cMRI and 2DE-3DE approaches. Using the 2DE-cMRI approach, 3/39 were not affected, 5/39 possible, 8/39 borderline, and 23/39 definite ARVC. The proposed 2DE-3DE approach yielded 5/39 not affected, 7/39 possible, 8/39 borderline, and 19/39 definite diagnoses. The two approaches were highly concordant (k = 0.71; 95% confidence interval: 0.44-0.84). Although 3DE underestimated RV volumes in comparison with cMRI, interfering, in some instances with the fulfilment of a major criterion, it was able to identify more RV WMA (28/39) than 2DE (11/39), with a detection-rate comparable to cMRI (33/39) highlighting a unique advantage. Conclusion: The combination of 2DE-3DE for ARVC diagnosis is comparable to the conventional 2DE-cMRI approach. 3DE should be performed in all suspected ARVC patients to aide in the detection of WMA