Production of Specialized Transformation Vectors for the Production of Biodegradable Plastics in Transgenic Arabidopsis and Oil Palm

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), such as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) are bacterial polyesters, which can be used to produce biodegradable products. Since the mass production of PHAs in bacteria via fermentation is expensive, the production of PHAs in plants may be an attractive alternative. The production of PHB in plants required genetic engineering of phbA, phbB and phbC genes of Ralstonia eutropha, whereas, the bktB, phbB, phbC genes of R. eutropha and tdcB gene of Escherichia coli were required for PHBV production. In this study, each of these gene was fused with the transit peptide (Tp) of oil palm acyl-carrier-protein (ACP), and driven by the oil palm leaf-specific promoter (LSP1), for targeting into the plastids of leaf cells. In total, four transformation vectors, pLSP15 (PHB) and pLSP20 (PHBV), pLSP13 (PHB) and pLSP23 (PHBV) were constructed for the transformation of Arabidopsis and oil palm, respectively. Each vector contained the phosphinothricin acetyltransferase gene (Bar) driven by CaMV35S promoter in pLSP15 and pLSP20, and ubiquitin promoter in pLSP13 and pLSP23, as plant selectable marker. Matrix attachment region of tobacco (RB7MAR) was also included, to stabilize the transgene expression and to minimize gene silencing due to positional effects. Restriction enzymes, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing were used to verify all the constructed vectors. Arabidopsis transformation produced T1 transgenic Arabidopsis plants with normal phenotypes at a transformation efficiency of 0.2%~1.0%. PCR and Southern analyses were used to confirm the insertion of the transgenes. Nile blue A staining of these T1 plants demonstrated the accumulation of PHB granules in the leaf. The initial screening of Basta-resistant oil palm embryogenic calli transformed with pLSP13 using PCR demonstrated the presence of Bar and PHB genes in transformed oil palm

Update on Membranoproliferative GN

Membranoproliferative GN represents a pattern of injury seen on light microscopy. Historically, findings on electron microscopy have been used to further subclassify this pathologic entity. Recent advances in understanding of the underlying pathobiology have led to a proposed classification scheme based on immunofluorescence findings. Dysregulation of the complement system has been shown to be a major risk factor for the development of a membranoproliferative GN pattern of injury on kidney biopsy. Evaluation and treatment of this complex disorder rest on defining the underlying mechanisms

The Echocardiography Quality Framework: a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to quality assurance and continuous service improvement

The Echocardiography Quality Framework (EQF) is a unique, comprehensive, holistic approach to improving all aspects of an echocardiography service. The EQF is a patient-centered program, combining Quality Assurance and Continuous Service Improvement. The framework encompasses measures of (i) the quality of echocardiography, (ii) reproducibility and consistency, (iii) education and training, and (iv) customer feedback. The EQF is scalable and adaptable to benefit any echocardiography service. A catalogue or library of supporting documents is being developed by the British Society of Echocardiography (BSE), to be made available to any participating department. A mechanism and online infrastructure for (optional) national registration or assessment is being developed, to be used as a standalone adjunct or linked to BSE Departmental Accreditation. The principles that underpin the EQF may be applied to other imaging disciplines and, ultimately, other medical or surgical specialties

Improving Learners’ Motivation and ELT Achievement through Discovery Learning Model after the Covid-19 Pandemic

The discovery learning model has several advantages when compared to other learning models such as that learners are involved in collaboration with peer classmates and with teachers. The activities can bring students to create a sense of pleasure and enthusiasm because they can directly investigate and find out the results. This study was aiming at improving learners’ motivation and ELT achievement of the seventh-grade learners after Covid-19 Pandemic through the application of a scientific approach using Discovery Learning model. This study is a Classroom Action Research (CAR). The study was conducted at SMP 4 Mataram involving 16 learners. This research was carried out in two cycles. The research procedure consisted of planning, implementation, observation and reflection. The observation sheets, student observation sheets, motivation questionnaires and ELT tests were employed to gain the research data. The data were analyzed in descriptive ways. The results of the study in the first cycle showed that the average score for teacher activities was 3.18, learner activities were 3.38, individual assignments were 68.25, and written tests were 67.69. Those were incomplete category. Furthermore, in the second cycle, the average score for teacher activities was 4.43, learner activities were 4.21, individual assignments were 80.88, and written tests were 84.31. These were included in the complete category. These results indicate that the indicators of success (> 4.0) and ELT achievement (> 75.00) have been exceeded. Because the indicators of success have been achieved, the study is declared successful. It means that the use of discovery learning is able to improve learners’ motivation and ELT achievement after Covid-19 pandemic

RANCANG BANGUN APLIKASI TELEPON SELULAR UNTUK TUNANETRA BERBASIS SMARTPHONEANDROID MENGGUNAKAN ECLIPSE

DESIGN AND APPLICATION MOBILE PHONE ANDROID SMARTPHONE FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED BASED USING ECLIPSE (2014:xiii + 63pages + list + image list table) Tahir Masani 0611 3033 0286 Electrical Engineering Department TelecommunicationEngineering Visually impaired access the phone by way of memorizing the buttons and the steps in it. As we already know, blind people can not access the phone with visual.Oleh method, therefore, they have to memorize the position of the buttons and their functions. For numeric keys, it looks like it has been an absolute to be memorized by everyone. Then the need to memorize then is the action buttons such as call buttons, clear or delete, menu, and button to close the connection. The equipment can be realized with android smartphone. Android is a Linux-based operating system for mobile phones such as smart phones and tablet computers. Android provides an open platform for developers to create their own applications for use by the various devices on the move using a sound sensor and touch screen to help visually impaired communication distance with android smartphones

Peningkatan kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis melalui Self Organized Learning Environment (SOLE) berbasis edpuzzle ditinjau dari resiliensi siswa: Penelitian kuasi eksperimen kelas X di SMA Muhammadiyah 4 Bandung

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis siswa karena sebagai salah satu kemampuan matematis yang harus dikuasai siswa. Hal ini pun dilatarbelakangi oleh perlu ditingkatkannya kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis di suatu SMA didukung dengan studi pendahuluan yang telah dilakukan. Salah satu alternatif untuk menanggulangi permasalahan tersebut yaitu dengan pembelajaran dengan model pembelajaran SOLE (Self Organized Learning Environment) berbantuan edpuzzle. Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk mengetahui: (a) perbedaan peningkatan kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis siswa; (b) perbedaan pencapaian kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis siswa ditinjau dari resiliensi siswa; (c) peningkatan resiliensi siswa kearah yang lebih baik dengan penggunaan model pembelajaran SOLE (Self Organized Learning Environment) berbantuan edpuzzle. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kuasi eksperimen dengan sampel kelas X IPA 1 dan X IPA SMA Muhammadiyah 4 Kota Bandung. Instrumen yang digunakan adalah tes yang berupa tes kemampuan pemecahan masalah dan non tes yang berupa angket resilensi siswa. Hasil penelitian sebagai berikut: (a) Peningkatan kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis siswa dengan model pembelajaran SOLE (Self Organized Learning Environment) berbantuan edpuzzle lebih baik; (b) Pencapaian kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis siswa dengan model pembelajaran SOLE (Self Organized Learning Environment) berbantuan edpuzzle lebih baik berdasarkan tingkat resiliensi sisw, (c) Terdapat peningkatan resiliensi siswa ke arah yang lebih baik dengan penggunaan model pembelajaran SOLE (Self Organized Learning Environment) berbantuan edpuzzle;. Maka, model pembelajaran SOLE (Self Organized Learning Environment) berbantuan edpuzzle efektif dalam meningkatkan kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis siswa dan peningkatan resiliensi siswa ke arah yang lebih baik