ACTIVATING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND SUPERVISORS IN BASIC EDUCATION IN THE SULTANATE OF OMAN

The study aims at identifying the reality of communication practices between school principals and supervisors in basic education in the Sultanate of Oman. It aims also at identifying the reality of communication between the school principal and the supervisor at Basic Education schools in the Sultanate of Oman, and identifying differences according to job position, gender, academic qualifications, years of experience, educational district, the number of schools the educational supervisor supervises, the size of the school, and the number of head teachers in the school. Finally, the study aims at reaching recommended processes to activate the communication between school principals and supervisors in basic education. The most significant findings of the field study are as follows the estimates of the responses of the study sample regarding the four aspects of the activation of communication between school principal and educational supervisor in Basic of Education schools in the Sultanate of Oman, varied between high and low. In the light of the study findings; the researcher has reached a number of proposed procedures to activate the communication between school principals and educational supervisors in the Basic Education schools in the Sultanate of Oman. A number of further research studies have also been proposed. </jats:p

Keanekaragaman Ikan Karang Target Kaitannya dengan Keanekaragaman Bentuk Pertumbuhan Karang pada Zona Inti di Taman Wisata Perairan Kepulauan Anambas

Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di Taman Wisata Perairan (TWP) Kepulauan Anambas, Kepulauan Riau. Pengambilan data dilakukan pada bulan November 2015. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah menganalisis keterkaitan keanekaragaman ikan karang target dengan bentuk pertumbuhan karang pada Zona Inti di TWP Kepulauan Anambas. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode survei pada pengambilan data ikan dan karang, berupa metode visual sensus (UVS) dan metode UPT (Underwater Photo Transect). Hasil penelitian di Zona inti TWP Kepulauan Anambas, indeks keanekaragaman ikan karang target memiliki rata-rata sebesar 1,451 dengan kisaran 0,6 - 2,1 berarti keanekaragamannya rendah, tekanan lingkungan sangat kuat. Keanekaragaman bentuk pertumbuhan karang memiliki rata-rata indeks keanekaragaman sebesar 2,36 dengan kisaran 1,4 – 2,6, yang berarti keanekaragaman bentuk pertumbuhan karang dalam kategori sedang, tekanan lingkungan sedang. Keanekaragaman ikan karang target memiliki arah hubungan yang posit3if dengan keanekaragaman bentuk pertumbuhan karang. namun tingkat keeratan hubungan sangat rendah ditandai dengan nilai Pearson Correlation 0,140 dan besar koefisien determinasi adalah 0,1 %. Hubungan positif menunjukkan jika keanekaragaman bentuk pertumbuhan karang tinggi maka keanekaragaman ikan karang target akan tinggi, namun tidak signifikan dengan hasil yang di dapat pada saat penelitian

CCR1-Mediated STAT3 Tyrosine Phosphorylation and CXCL8 Expression in THP-1 Macrophage-like Cells Involve Pertussis Toxin-Insensitive Gα 14/16

Agonists of CCR1 contribute to hypersensitivity reactions and atherosclerotic lesions, possibly via the regulation of the transcription factor STAT3. CCR1 was demonstrated to use pertussis toxin-insensitive G alpha(14/16) to stimulate phospholipase C beta and NF-kappa B, whereas both G alpha(14) and G alpha(16) are also capable of activating STAT3. The coexpression of CCR1 and G alpha(14/16) in human THP-1 macrophage-like cells suggests that CCR1 may use G alpha(14/16) to induce STAT3 activation. In this study, we demonstrated that a CCR1 agonist, leukotactin-1 (CCL15), could indeed stimulate STAT3 Tyr(705) and Ser(727) phosphorylation via pertussis toxin-insensitive G proteins in PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells, human erythroleukemia cells, and HEK293 cells overexpressing CCR1 and G alpha(14/16). The STAT3 Tyr(705) and Ser(727) phosphorylations were independent of each other and temporally distinct. Subcellular fractionation and confocal microscopy illustrated that Tyr(705)-phosphorylated STAT3 translocated to the nucleus, whereas Ser(727)-phosphorylated STAT3 was retained in the cytosol after CCR1/G alpha(14) activation. CCL15 was capable of inducing IL-6 and IL-8 (CXCL8) production in both THP-1 macrophage-like cells and HEK293 cells overexpressing CCR1 and G alpha(14/16). Neutralizing Ab to IL-6 inhibited CCL15-mediated STAT3 Tyr(705) phosphorylation, whereas inhibition of STAT3 activity abolished CCL15-activated CXCL8 release. The ability of CCR1 to signal through G alpha(14/16) provides a linkage for CCL15 to regulate IL-6/STAT3-signaling cascades, leading to expression of CXCL8, a cytokine that is involved in inflammation and the rupture of atherosclerotic plaque. The Journal of Immunology, 2012, 189: 5266-5276

Heme Oxygenase-1 Induction Improves Cardiac Function following Myocardial Ischemia by Reducing Oxidative Stress

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress plays a key role in exacerbating diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a stress response protein, is cytoprotective, but its role in post myocardial infarction (MI) and diabetes is not fully characterized. We aimed to investigate the protection and the mechanisms of HO-1 induction in cardiomyocytes subjected to hypoxia and in diabetic mice subjected to LAD ligation. METHODS: In vitro: cultured cardiomyocytes were treated with cobalt-protoporphyrin (CoPP) and tin protoporphyrin (SnPP) prior to hypoxic stress. In vivo: CoPP treated streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were subjected to LAD ligation for 2/24 h. Cardiac function, histology, biochemical damage markers and signaling pathways were measured. RESULTS: HO-1 induction lowered release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phospho kinase (CK), decreased propidium iodide staining, improved cell morphology and preserved mitochondrial membrane potential in cardiomyocytes. In diabetic mice, Fractional Shortening (FS) was lower than non-diabetic mice (35±1%vs.41±2, respectively p<0.05). CoPP-treated diabetic animals improved cardiac function (43±2% p<0.01), reduced CK, Troponin T levels and infarct size compared to non-treated diabetic mice (P<0.01, P<0.001, P<0.01 respectively). CoPP-enhanced HO-1 protein levels and reduced oxidative stress in diabetic animals, as indicated by the decrease in superoxide levels in cardiac tissues and plasma TNFα levels (p<0.05). The increased levels of HO-1 by CoPP treatment after LAD ligation led to a shift of the Bcl-2/bax ratio towards the antiapoptotic process (p<0.05). CoPP significantly increased the expression levels of pAKT and pGSK3β (p<0.05) in cardiomyocytes and in diabetic mice with MI. SnPP abolished CoPP's cardioprotective effects. CONCLUSIONS: HO-1 induction plays a role in cardioprotection against hypoxic damage in cardiomyocytes and in reducing post ischemic cardiac damage in the diabetic heart as proved by the increased levels of pAKT with a concomitant inhibition of pGSK3β leading to preserved mitochondrial membrane potential

Immunogenicity against wild-type and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 after a third dose of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in healthy adolescents

IntroductionTwo doses of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine CoronaVac cannot elicit high efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19, especially against the Omicron variant, but that can be improved by a third dose in adults. The use of a third dose of CoronaVac in adolescents may be supported by immunobridging studies in the absence of efficacy data.MethodsWith an immunobridging design, our study (NCT04800133) tested the non-inferiority of the binding and neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses induced by a third dose of CoronaVac in healthy adolescents (N=94, median age 14.2 years, 56% male) compared to adults (N=153, median age 48.1 years, 44% male). Responses against wild-type (WT) and BA.1 SARS-CoV-2 were compared in adolescents. Safety and reactogenicity were also monitored.ResultsA homologous third dose of CoronaVac further enhanced antibody response in adolescents compared to just 2 doses. Adolescents mounted non-inferior antibody and T cell responses compared to adults. Although S IgG and neutralizing antibody responses to BA.1 were lower than to WT, they remained detectable in 96% and 86% of adolescents. T cell responses to peptide pools spanning only the mutations of BA.1 S, N and M in adolescents were preserved, increased, and halved compared to WT respectively. No safety concerns were identified.DiscussionThe primary vaccination series of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines for adolescents should include 3 doses for improved humoral immunogenicity.</jats:sec

DataSheet_1_Immunogenicity against wild-type and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 after a third dose of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in healthy adolescents.pdf

IntroductionTwo doses of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine CoronaVac cannot elicit high efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19, especially against the Omicron variant, but that can be improved by a third dose in adults. The use of a third dose of CoronaVac in adolescents may be supported by immunobridging studies in the absence of efficacy data.MethodsWith an immunobridging design, our study (NCT04800133) tested the non-inferiority of the binding and neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses induced by a third dose of CoronaVac in healthy adolescents (N=94, median age 14.2 years, 56% male) compared to adults (N=153, median age 48.1 years, 44% male). Responses against wild-type (WT) and BA.1 SARS-CoV-2 were compared in adolescents. Safety and reactogenicity were also monitored.ResultsA homologous third dose of CoronaVac further enhanced antibody response in adolescents compared to just 2 doses. Adolescents mounted non-inferior antibody and T cell responses compared to adults. Although S IgG and neutralizing antibody responses to BA.1 were lower than to WT, they remained detectable in 96% and 86% of adolescents. T cell responses to peptide pools spanning only the mutations of BA.1 S, N and M in adolescents were preserved, increased, and halved compared to WT respectively. No safety concerns were identified.DiscussionThe primary vaccination series of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines for adolescents should include 3 doses for improved humoral immunogenicity.</p