Patient-associated risk factors for acquisition of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) in a tertiary hospital setting

MRSA is a dominant hospital pathogen because of its increasing incidence, the cost of treatment, antibiotic resistance, limited antimicrobial armamentarium, and associated increased mortality. Determining risk factors for MRSA acquisition in hospital settings has important public health relevance for defining targets for infection control, reduction in mortality from hospital-acquired infections, and decreasing hospitalization costs. A retrospective matched case-control study was initiated to determine patient-associated risk factors for MRSA acquisition at the Presbyterian University Hospital. It was hypothesized that risk factors for MRSA acquisition could be identified and used to enhance or tailor infection control strategies. Cases and two matched controls were selected among patients admitted to high risk units where MRSA screening was routinely done from January 2001 to December 2008. Cases were subjects who acquired MRSA during hospitalization. Variables collected were potential patient-associated risk factors associated with MRSA acquisition among cases versus controls. The odds of exposure to potential risk factors for MRSA acquisition were compared between cases and controls, using matched univariate conditional logistic regression. A single multivariate conditional logistic regression model identifying patient-specific risk factors significantly associated with MRSA acquisition was generated. The final model included 15 independently significant variables. Seven factors were positively associated with MRSA acquisition: primary diagnosis of respiratory disease, digestive tract disease, or injury/trauma, any diagnosis of pneumonia, cerebrovascular/peripheral vascular disease, intracranial ventricular shunt procedure, and a high risk unit stay prior to index culture. Eight variables were protective and included two beta lactam antibiotic classes (penicillin and cephalosporin), rifamycin, daptomycin/linezolid, proton pump inhibitors, history of transplant, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and intravascular stenting/catheterization. As 3 of the 7 factors positively associated with MRSA acquisition were conditions present on admission, they were not modifiable. Of the remaining 4, pneumonia could potentially be reduced by maintaining high compliance with pneumococcal vaccine. Admission to a high risk unit in itself is not modifiable. Although ventricular shunting was a factor, the lack of association with many common bedside or interventional procedures performed in these high risk areas argues for intensified environmental control and strict sterile technique for all procedures performed on patients

Attitude and Performance in Mathematics I of Bachelor of Elementary Education Students: A Correlational Analysis

This paper determines the relationship between attitude and performance in Mathematics of 105 Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEEd) freshman students by using correlational research with the questionnaire as the main instrument. The study found that the performance in Mathematics I of the respondents was below average. Their attitudes are significantly correlated with their performance in Mathematics I. The higher their positive attitude, the higher their performance (r=.792**, p<0.01), whereas the higher their negative attitude the lower their performance (r= -.940**, p<0.01). Further, the respondents believe that working with Mathematics problems will make them better critical thinkers and they assume that they have more chance of becoming successful in life if they are good in Mathematics. However, the respondents consider Mathematics as the most difficult subject. They were scared of Mathematics problems and easily give up with answering when they cannot solve them. The overall result revealed that the respondents exhibit negative attitude towards Mathematics. The significant findings of this study provide valuable information for Mathematics teachers, administrators and curriculum planners to enhance policies and pedagogies relating to Mathematics instruction

Cross evaluation of experience level and teaching approaches in college table tennis physical education students

This study was conducted to determine which approach is more effective between Random and Blocked practice in teaching Physical Education. It also focused on the effect of Random practice in motor-learning and memory capacity of individuals in learning a sport. The two approaches were used to teach the forehand and backhand skills of Table Tennis. Sixty-four students of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) taking the course PE 2 Table Tennis were chosen as subjects and they were classified as Beginners, Intermediate and Advance players. These students were assigned into two training groups; the Blocked Practice and the Random Practice. Afterwards, both groups went through pre-test, post-test and retention test. With the use of a device called Robo-Pong, their performances were observed and recorded before and after the trainings. Using the data gathered, it was determined that all groups improved since they achieved higher scores from pre-test to post-test through Blocked and Random practice. Meanwhile, in the post-test and retention scores, Beginners and Intermediate players had higher mean scores in the Random group

Reconceptualizing Divine Omnipotence: A Decolonial Interpretation of Process Theology

This thesis offers a decolonial interpretation of divine omnipotence based on Anibal Quijano's work on the coloniality of power. I intend to bridge the potential gaps between socio-political philosophy, the philosophy of religion, and decolonial theory, by drawing parallels between how we conceptualize the characteristics of God and the features of coloniality. I begin the paper by outlining Quijano's framework on the coloniality of power, the colonial matrix of power, and his decoloniality of power. I continue by problematizing the classical theistic conception of God and divine omnipotence as perpetuating colonial standards. Then, I encourage the need for a decolonial reconceptualization of divine omnipotence using historical examples of colonization and Christianization. The second half of the paper focuses on a direct application of Quijano's decolonial approach using process theology. I start with a summary of process metaphysics to describe God's relation to the world and follow with an explanation of the process theological conception of God and divine omnipotence. This section ends with an in-depth argument about how the conception of divine omnipotence within process theology can be interpreted as a decolonial reconceptualization. The paper concludes by reiterating the significance of this interpretation in the development of a decoloniality of power and broader form of decolonization.https://doi.org/10.46569/f4752s50

Germination of two varieties of mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilzeck] in different concentrations of herbicides and mungbean extract

Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L) Wilzeck) varieties MG-3 and MG-9 was germinated in 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25(v/v) percent concentrations of Machete, 2,4-D and Mungbean Extract. Percent germination, hypocotyl length(cm), protein content(ug/ml) and ascorbic acid (mg/g) were determined. Results were statistically analyzed using One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in a completely randomized design(CRD). The different concentrations of Machete (Chloro-2,6-diethyl-N-(butoxy methyl) acetanilide), 2,4-D(2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid) and Mungbean Extract did not significantly affect germination and protein content. However, the hypocotyl length was notably reduced as the concentration of the various treatments was increased for both varieties. However both varieties was unaffected when germinated on Machete as Ascorbic acid is concerned while MG-9 was significantly affected by 2,4-D on all concentrations and MG-3 was significantly affected by Mungbean extract on all concentrations

Mathematical thinking of grade II pupils: A case analysis

This study explored the mathematical thinking of Filipino Grade II pupils within the tenets of Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI). It attempted to determine what types of problem in arithmetic they are able to solve, and it described what solution strategies and algorithms they are able to construct and invent on their own. Ten Grade II pupils enrolled at a Montessori type of school system were given problems to work on to probe their mathematical thinking these arithmetic problems were categorized into join, separte, compare, part-part-whole, multiplication, measurement division, and partitive division following CGI\u27s categorizations. Data were gathered through problem solving sheets and interviews conducted. Results showed that second grade pupils were capable of solving story problems written in English and did much better when the problems were translated in Tagalog, their home language. In solving the problems, they employed strategies like the use of number facts and algorithms in addition and subtraction, modeling strategies like joining the elements of two sets, removing the elements from a set, matching the elements of two sets, and distributing and partitioning the elements of a set. They were able to solve multiplication and division problems prior to receiving formal instructions of these operations. Results also showed that they used techniques in counting such as counting on, counting on to, counting down, counting down to following Carpenter, Fennema, and Franke\u27s classification of counting strategies. Skip counting and repeated addition were also observed in the solution strategies for multiplication problems. Because they were free to employ solution strategies of their own choice, invented algorithms and creativity came out from their works. The study presents relevant implications for improving problem solving skills of pupils and the teaching of mathematics particularly in the elementary level