Retention Levels Research Articles

Identification of Quiescent Cells in a Zebrafish T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Model Using Cell Proliferation Staining.

Cellular quiescence is a state of growth arrest or slowed proliferation that is described in normal and cancer stem cells (CSCs). Quiescence may protect CSCs from antiproliferative chemotherapy drugs. In T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models, quiescent cells are associated with treatment resistance and stemness. Cell proliferation dyes are popular tools for the tracking of cell division. The fluorescent dye is covalently anchored into amine groups on the membrane and macromolecules inside the cell. This allows for the tracking of labeled cells for up to 10 divisions, which can be resolved by flow cytometry. Ultimately, cells with the highest proliferation rates will have low dye retention, as it will be diluted with each cell division, while dormant, slower-dividing cells will have the highest retention. The use of cell proliferation dyes to isolate dormant cells has been optimized and described in T-ALL mouse models. Complementary to the existing mouse models, the rag2:Myc-derived zebrafish T-ALL model provides an excellent venue to interrogate self-renewal in T-ALL due to the high frequency of leukemic stem cells (LSCs) and the convenience of zebrafish for large-scale transplant experiments. Here, we describe the workflow for the staining of zebrafish T-ALL cells with a cell proliferation dye, optimizing the concentration of the dye for zebrafish cells, passaging successfully stained cells in vivo, and the collection of cells with varying levels of dye retention by live cell sorting from transplanted animals. Given the absence of well-established cell surface makers for LSCs in T-ALL, this approach provides a functional means to interrogate quiescent cells in vivo. For representative results, we describe the engraftment efficiency and the LSC frequency of high and low dye-retaining cells. This method can help investigate additional properties of quiescent cells, including drug response, transcriptional profiles, and morphology.

Functional responses of understory plants to natural disturbance-based management in eastern and western Canada.

Natural disturbance-based management (NDBM) is hypothesized to maintain managed forest ecosystem integrity by reducing differences between natural and managed forests. The effectiveness of this approach often entails local comparisons of species composition or diversity for a variety of biota from managed and unmanaged forests. Understory vegetation is regularly the focus of such comparison because of its importance in nutrient cycling, forest regeneration, and for wildlife. However, larger scale comparisons between regions with distinct species assemblages may require a trait-based approach to better understand understory responses to disturbance. We compared the long-term effects of retention harvesting on understory vegetation in two large experimental study sites located in eastern and western regions of the Canadian boreal forest. These sites included the Sylviculture en Aménagement Forestier Ecosystémique (SAFE) experiment and the Ecosystem Management Emulating Natural Disturbance (EMEND) experiment, located in the eastern and western regions of Canada, respectively. EMEND and SAFE share common boreal understory species but have distinct tree communities, soils, and climate. Both experiments were designed to evaluate how increasing tree retention after harvest affects biodiversity. Here, we examined taxonomic richness, functional diversity, and functional composition (using community trait mean values) of understory plant communities, and also examine intraspecific trait variability (ITV) for five species common and abundant in both experiments. We observed the limited impacts of retention level on richness, functional diversity, and functional composition of understory plants 20 years postharvest. However, ITV of leaf morphological traits varied between retention levels within each experiment, depending on the species identity. Common species had different functional responses to retention level, showing species-specific reactions to environmental variation. Our result suggests that understory plant communities in the boreal forest achieve resilience to disturbance both in terms of interspecific and intraspecific functional trait diversity. Such diversity may be key to maintaining understory biodiversity in the face of future disturbances and environmental change. Our results reveal the significance of ITV in plant communities for understanding responses to forest harvesting and the importance of choosing appropriate traits when studying species responses to the environment.

Pengaruh Program Membership dan Partnership terhadap Loyalitas Pelanggan: Studi pada Perusahaan Midtown Hotels Indonesia Cabang Surabaya

This research aims to analyze the influence of membership and partnership programs on customer loyalty at Midtown Hotels Indonesia, Surabaya branch. Using random sampling techniques based on Slovin's formula, the study sampled 222 respondents from a population of 500 customers. Primary data was collected through the distribution of questionnaires to respondents to test the relationship between these programs and customer loyalty. The analysis results show that membership and partnership programs have a positive and significant influence on customer loyalty, indicating that the existence of these programs can increase customer retention and satisfaction levels at Midtown Hotels Indonesia, Surabaya branch.

The spliceosome impacts morphogenesis in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans.

At human body temperature, the fungal pathogen Candida albicans can transition from yeast to filamentous morphologies in response to host-relevant cues. Additionally, elevated temperatures encountered during febrile episodes can independently induce C. albicans filamentation. However, the underlying genetic pathways governing this developmental transition in response to elevated temperatures remain largely unexplored. Here, we conducted a functional genomic screen to unravel the genetic mechanisms orchestrating C. albicans filamentation specifically in response to elevated temperature, implicating 45% of genes associated with the spliceosome or pre-mRNA splicing in this process. Employing RNA-Seq to elucidate the relationship between mRNA splicing and filamentation, we identified greater levels of intron retention in filaments compared to yeast, which correlated with reduced expression of the affected genes. Intriguingly, homozygous deletion of a gene encoding a spliceosome component important for filamentation (PRP19) caused even greater levels of intron retention compared with wild type and displayed globally dysregulated gene expression. This suggests that intron retention is a mechanism for fine-tuning gene expression during filamentation, with perturbations of the spliceosome exacerbating this process and blocking filamentation. Overall, this study unveils a novel biological process governing C. albicans filamentation, providing new insights into the complex regulation of this key virulence trait.IMPORTANCEFungal pathogens such as Candida albicans can cause serious infections with high mortality rates in immunocompromised individuals. When C. albicans is grown at temperatures encountered during human febrile episodes, yeast cells undergo a transition to filamentous cells, and this process is key to its virulence. Here, we expanded our understanding of how C. albicans undergoes filamentation in response to elevated temperature and identified many genes involved in mRNA splicing that positively regulate filamentation. Through transcriptome analyses, we found that intron retention is a mechanism for fine-tuning gene expression in filaments, and perturbation of the spliceosome exacerbates intron retention and alters gene expression substantially, causing a block in filamentation. This work adds to the growing body of knowledge on the role of introns in fungi and provides new insights into the cellular processes that regulate a key virulence trait in C. albicans.

P-523 Single molecule chromatin footprinting reveals only low occurrence of nucleosomes at multiple loci throughout chromatin of human and mouse spermatozoa

Abstract Study question What fraction of spermatozoa from mouse and human semen contain nucleosomes at specific loci? What chromatin features affect nucleosome retention in spermatozoa? Summary answer On average, 1-2% mouse spermatozoa and 5-9% human spermatozoa contain nucleosomes at sampled genomic loci, with moderately higher frequencies at unmethylated regions of DNA. What is known already Nucleosomes constitute the basic packaging and gene regulatory unit of DNA in eukaryotic cells. During final stages of spermatogenesis in mammals, however, most nucleosomes are replaced by protamines. Previous global chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing studies reported the presence of nucleosomes at gene regulatory and other genomic regions. Such nucleosomes were proposed to convey intergenerational inheritance of epigenetic information. Additional studies revealed that infertile men with decreased success of assisted reproductive therapy have protamine deficiency or displayed more widely distributed nucleosomes in their sperm genome. Direct links between altered levels of nuclear proteins and fertilizing potential of sperm have, however, not been established. Study design, size, duration We conducted a case study on nucleosome retention levels in sperm from four selected fertile human samples. This study was complemented in mice, in which we characterized the dynamic changes in nucleosome frequencies at genomic loci during differentiation of haploid spermatids into spermatozoa, and their responses in mutant spermatozoa lacking DNA methylation at certain loci. Participants/materials, setting, methods We used the single-molecule sequencing technique called Nucleosome Occupancy and Methylome Sequencing to quantify nucleosome occupancy rates at selected loci in spermatozoa from ejaculated semen of four fertile semen donors. We also profiled round spermatids, early and late elongating spermatids and spermatozoa of C57BL/6J wild-type mice as well as spermatozoa of mice conditionally deficient for the methyltransferases Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b, lacking DNA methylation at certain genomic regions. Main results and the role of chance To our knowledge, this is the first study to quantify nucleosome occupancy in mouse male gametes and human spermatozoa at single-molecule resolution. In mice, we observed that chromatin remodelling during spermatid elongation resulted in a progressive loss of nucleosomes and their positioning, a transient gain in global chromatin accessibility which was succeeded by increasing chromatin inaccessibility and nuclear compaction. In both human and mouse sperm, we profiled nucleosome occupancy levels at different genomic loci and measured only low percentages, ranging from ∼1-2% in mouse and 5-9% in human. In both organisms we observed a near two-fold higher nucleosome occupancy at loci being unmethylated at their DNA over loci being highly methylated. Mice partially deficient in genomic DNA methylation manifested a similar fold increase in nucleosome occupancy in absence of DNA methylation. These data reveal a moderate modulatory role for DNA methylation established in spermatogonial stages in regulating nucleosome eviction during spermiogenesis. The overall low nucleosome occupancy frequencies in mammalian spermatozoa suggest a stochastic or random rather than a programmed role of nucleosomes in regulating paternal gene expression during ensuing embryonic development. Limitations, reasons for caution Amplicon-based sequencing provides deep sequencing coverage for selected genomic loci. We lack, however, information on the distribution of nucleosomes among loci within the genome of single spermatozoa. In human, we studied a limited number of human donors. Wider implications of the findings This study resolves a long-standing question on the frequency and local distribution of nucleosomes in murine and human spermatozoa. The variability in nucleosome occupancy between spermatozoa within and between samples of human individuals inspires further investigations into the relationship between chromatin states and quality of individual spermatozoa for embryonic development. Trial registration number SNCTP000003654

Cancer-associated snaR-A noncoding RNA interacts with core splicing machinery and disrupts processing of mRNA subpopulations.

RNA polymerase III (Pol III) activity in cancer is linked to the production of small noncoding (nc)RNAs that are otherwise silent in most tissues. snaR-A (small NF90-associated RNA isoform A) - a hominid-specific ncRNA shown to enhance cell proliferation, migration, and invasion - is a cancer-emergent Pol III product that remains largely uncharacterized despite promoting growth phenotypes. Here, we applied a combination of genomic and biochemical approaches to study the biogenesis and subsequent protein interactions of snaR-A and to better understand its role as a putative driver of cancer progression. By profiling the chromatin landscapes across a multitude of primary tumor types, we show that predicted snaR-A upregulation is broadly linked with unfavorable outcomes among cancer patients. At the molecular level, we unexpectedly discover widespread interactions between snaR-A and mRNA splicing factors, including SF3B2 - a core component of the U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP). We find that SF3B2 levels are sensitive to high snaR-A abundance and that depletion of snaR-A alone is sufficient to decrease intron retention levels across subpopulations of mRNA enriched for U2 snRNP occupancy. snaR-A sensitive genes are characterized by high GC content, close spatial proximity to nuclear bodies concentrated in pre-mRNA splicing factors, and functional enrichment for proteins involved in deacetylation and autophagy. We highlight examples of splicing misregulation and increased protein levels following snaR-A depletion for a wide-ranging set of factors, suggesting snaR-A-driven splicing defects may have far-reaching effects that re-shape the cellular proteome. These findings clarify the molecular activities and consequences of snaR-A in cancer, and altogether establish a novel mechanism through which Pol III overactivity may promote tumorigenesis.

Haline Tolerance of Stomatopod (Crustacea) Larvae and Pelagic Dispersal of Two Common Species in the Western Atlantic

AbstractPelagic larval stages play a critical role in the dynamics of marine populations since they are the main way of dispersal and habitat colonization. Here, we examined the larval dispersal pathways of two common stomatopod species in the western Atlantic: Squilla empusa and Lysiosquilla scabricauda. To complement this goal, we also analyzed the haline tolerance of the stomatopod larvae collected in an estuary from the southern Gulf of Mexico. Larval dispersal was simulated using a Lagrangian particle‐tracking module coupled to the Global HYCOM model and consisted of releasing 100 passive particles from each starting site. Results indicated a high level of larval retention in the west Florida shelf and over the narrow western shelf of the Gulf of Mexico. In the South Atlantic Bight, Central America, and northern South America the larval transport was almost unidirectional following the pattern of currents. Generally, connections were among nearby sites, but long‐distance transport can also occur when larvae are trapped by great high‐speed currents. Retention of larvae and connection with neighboring sites were due to local atmospheric and hydrological conditions. During fieldwork, we found two kinds of larvae: antizoea and alima. Morphological characteristics of the antizoea correspond to the superfamily Lysiosquilloidea, and those of the alima, with the superfamily Squilloidea. The antizoea larvae were found in salinity values as low as 21.9 psu, while the alima were at 23.2 psu. Salinity tolerances and dispersal potential of larvae indicate a high level of colonization of new habitats and a broad intrusion into the estuaries.

Mitoxantrone ameliorates ineffective erythropoiesis in a β-thalassemia intermedia mouse model

Abstractβ-thalassemia is a condition characterized by reduced or absent synthesis of β-globin resulting from genetic mutations, leading to expanded and ineffective erythropoiesis. Mitoxantrone has been widely used clinically as an antitumor agent considering its ability to inhibit cell proliferation. However, its therapeutic effect on expanded and ineffective erythropoiesis in β-thalassemia is untested. We found that mitoxantrone decreased α-globin precipitates and ameliorated anemia, splenomegaly, and ineffective erythropoiesis in the HbbTh3/+ mouse model of β-thalassemia intermedia. The partially reversed ineffective erythropoiesis is a consequence of effects on autophagy as mitochondrial retention and protein levels of mTOR, P62, and LC3 in reticulocytes decreased in mitoxantrone-treated HbbTh3/+ mice. These data provide significant preclinical evidence for targeting autophagy as a novel therapeutic approach for β-thalassemia.

Employee Engagement and Retention: Analyzing the Role of Leadership Styles and Organizational Culture

This article explores the utilization of advanced agricultural technology for sustainable agribusiness development through case studies and identifies future directions. The interplay between leadership styles and organizational culture is examined in shaping employee engagement and retention within organizations. Leadership styles, including transformational, transactional, and laissez-faire, significantly influence organizational culture, impacting employee behaviors and organizational outcomes. A positive and supportive organizational culture fosters higher levels of employee engagement and retention, whereas cultures marked by rigidity hinder engagement and retention. By understanding this interplay, organizations can develop strategies to cultivate effective leadership behaviors and foster a positive work environment. Future research should explore contextual factors' moderating effects on this relationship for a more comprehensive understanding. This study contributes to enhancing sustainable agribusiness development by emphasizing leadership and organizational culture's pivotal role in leveraging advanced agricultural technology.

Educational concepts: A longitudinal interleaved curriculum for emergency medicine residency training.

Traditionally, emergency medicine (EM) residency programs teach non-adult emergency department activities (such as pediatric EM, point-of-care ultrasound [PoCUS], emergency medical services, and others) in a block format. In this way, a resident may have a 1-month pediatric EM rotation and then not have any further pediatric EM exposure until their next pediatric rotation 6‒9 months later. Furthermore, some rotations are only allotted for 1-month during the entire residency. A first-year EM resident may have their only formal PoCUS rotation early in the first year of training when their overall skills are developing, and their level of understanding and retention of information may not be optimal at that juncture of their residency training. This is far from ideal from an educational perspective. Learning scientists have now suggested that a longitudinal interleaved curriculum has substantial advantages over the traditional block format. This curriculum allows for a "spaced retrieval" practice that enhances retention of material and develops thinking processes that are important in clinical practice. The increased continuity of clinical experience has been shown to improve educational outcome and learner satisfaction. We developed a novel longitudinal interleaved curriculum for our EM resident trainees. This curriculum encompasses the entire 3 years of residency training and has the goals of increasing EM knowledge and clinical skills and being excellent preparation for board certification examinations. This concept has clear educational benefits. While adapting an existing medical training program would be challenging, a longitudinal curriculum could be phased in to replace a traditional EM curriculum.

A phase 1, open-label, dose escalation study on the safety and tolerability of ANK-101 in advanced solid tumors.

TPS2689 Background: IL-12 is a cytokine that can stimulate both innate and adaptive tumor immunity. Clinical trials of intravenous IL-12 demonstrated anti-tumor activity limited by significant systemic toxicity, including patient deaths. ANK-101 is an anchored immunotherapy that links IL-12 to aluminum hydroxide through an alum-binding protein (ABP). The ANK-101 complex anchors IL-12 in the tumor microenvironment (TME), resulting in prolonged local retention and low levels of systemic absorption. Preclinical studies in murine tumor models showed that ANK-101 is retained at the injection site for up to 28 days, recruits and activates T and NK cells, promotes M1 myeloid cell differentiation, induces regression of both injected and un-injected tumors, and induces immunologic memory. Methods: This is a first-in-human, open-label dose escalation study of ANK-101 in advanced solid tumors with a planned sample size of 12-36 participants. The first three dose escalation cohorts include a single participant, and then study enrollment follows a standard 3+3 dose escalation design. If no dose limiting toxicity (DLT) is observed, the dose level will be escalated until ≥1/3 or ≥2/6 patients experience a DLT. An additional ten patients will be enrolled at the recommended dose for expansion (RDE). Participants will be treated with intratumoral ANK-101 every 3 weeks for 4 cycles. Imaging or clinical assessments will be performed at week 12. If there is no significant clinical deterioration or unacceptable toxicity at this visit, participants may receive four more cycles. Eligible patients must have an advanced solid malignancy refractory to standard treatment and be accessible for injection and biopsy, measurable disease by RECIST v1.1, and ECOG PS of 0-1. Key exclusion criteria include tumors close to vital structures, uncontrolled bleeding disorders, and active autoimmune disease. Primary objectives of the study are to determine the safety and tolerability of ANK-101 and identify the RDE. Secondary objectives include pharmacokinetics (PK) and immunogenicity (ADA) of ANK-101 and clinical activity as measured by ORR, DCR, DOR and PFS by RECIST v1.1. Exploratory objectives include assessment of QOL using FACT-G and profiling immune-based pharmacodynamic (PD) changes. PD assessments will include serum cytokines and circulating immune cells, and local levels of PD-L1, CD8+ T cells, and CD68+ macrophages, and changes in gene expression within the TME. This clinical trial is in progress. Clinical trial information: NCT06171750 .

Use of biochar and NPK fertilizer in soybean cultivation in Alfisol to improve soil physical properties and plant growth

Abstract The decrease in soil properties due to using artificial fertilizers requires finding a solution, one of which is using biochar. This research aims to assess the effect of the application of rice husk biochar and NPK compound fertilizer on the physical properties of Alfisols and soybean growth. The study was conducted from March to June 2023 on Alfisol of Kwangsan Village, Jumapolo, using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 10 treatments and 3 replications. The study showed that combining rice husk biochar and NPK compound fertilizer improved soil physical properties: soil C-Organic levels, field capacity, soil porosity, and soil water retention levels, and reduced soil bulk weight. The treatments also increased soybean growth: plant height, number of leaves and branches. Application of 25% NPK compound fertilizer (75kg ha-1) and 100% rice husk biochar (10 tons ha-1) is suggested to progress soil physical properties and soybean plant development in Alfisols.

Effect of Guided Discovery Instructional Strategy on the Academic Achievement and Retention among Chemistry Students on Nce 1 in Volumetric Analysis in Federal College of Education (Fce) Obudu

The study investigated the effect of the Guided Discovery Instructional Strategy on academic Achievement and Retention among Chemistry Students of NCE year 1 in volumetric analysis in F.C.E Obudu. Quasi-experimental Pretest-Posttest was the design used. The population of the study was made up of both male and female students totaling five hundred and twenty (520). The instrument used was a designed test questions on Chemistry Volumetric Analysis Test (CVAT). The test items were validated by experts in test and measurement Department in the Faculty of Education UNICAL and Chemistry Department, F.C.E Obudu. A reliability coefficient of 0.65 using Cronbach Alpha was used. Four research questions were raised and answered using mean and standard deviation statistical method. The results showed that, in the identical circumstances and settings, students instructed via the guided discovery method performed better than those taught using the traditional lecture style. The study also showed that when educating both sexes utilizing the Guided Discovery technique, there is no discernible difference in the academic performance of males and females. The study also shows that there was an important distinction in retention ability between the conventional lecture approach and the guided discovery method for all students. Result of the study showed that guided Discovery method is preferable in teaching Sciences (Chemistry) than lecture method in volumetric analysis. Recommendations were made showing clearly that the Guided Discovery method should be applied by science teachers in Nigeria because, it is effective in achievement and retention by students and also that, it does not create disparity in gender level of achievement and retention, thus it should be enshrined in the Science curriculum of studies in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria.

Second Language Attrition and The Savings Paradigm: An exploration of long-term retention of a minority language learned in an educational context.

Explorations of attrition attempt to gain insight into linguistic representations in the brain and to understand what supports the consolidation of information in memory so that language knowledge is retained, even after long periods of language disuse. In this study the role of extra-linguistic factors in influencing levels of knowledge retention over a long period of incubation is investigated along with the question if support for savings can be found, i.e., is seemingly forgotten knowledge in fact still intact and, therefore, may be accessed again. Four adults from Ireland currently living in Germany who had not had contact with the Irish language in approximately 30 years were tested on their knowledge of Irish lexical items and interviewed in depth on their experiences of learning Irish. Understanding language loss has important implications for the L2/FL education domain and pedagogy. If it can be established what impacts greater retention of knowledge, teaching curricula and methodologies can be revised accordingly to make them more effective with respect to long-term knowledge retention.

Deep lakes support higher zooplankton functional diversity than shallow lakes: A case study in lacustrine environments affected by mining tailings (lower Doce River basin, Brazil)

Abstract Tragic incidents involving mine tailings spills have impacted many aquatic ecosystems around the world. The massive mine tailings dam collapse of Fundão, which occurred in Brazil in 2015, affected several aquatic ecosystems, including shallow and deep lakes in the lower Doce River basin. Until now, the effects of mine tailings on the functional diversity of zooplankton remain poorly understood. We investigated the functional diversity of zooplankton (functional groups, functional richness [FRic] and functional evenness [FEve]) in shallow and deep lakes, exploring the influence of environmental variables and metals. In addition, trends in functional redundancy and functional vulnerability were also assessed to understand patterns of resilience in mining‐impacted ecosystems. Surveys were performed monthly on three deep and three shallow lakes affected by the dam failure, from October 2018 to September 2019. In the deep lakes, the zooplankton community was dominated by smaller filter‐feeders and omnivorous species, associated with cyanobacteria density and chlorophyll‐a. Medium‐sized filters were associated to iron, suspended particulate organic matter and total organic carbon in shallow lakes. The smaller filter‐feeders and omnivorous trophic groups had a higher contribution to increasing the functional diversity of zooplankton than medium‐sized filter‐feeders in both deep and shallow lakes. FRic and FEve were higher in deep lakes than in shallow lakes. Shallow lakes were highly vulnerable to species loss and functional diversity was modulated by environmental changes and metal pollution. Tropical shallow lakes impacted by mining tailings should receive particular attention in conservation plans, as a consequence of their high level of pollutant retention in comparison with deep lakes. In addition, we highlight the importance of using a functional approach to better understand the ecosystem changes resulting from the impacts of mine tailings on aquatic environments.

AI student success predictor: Enhancing personalized learning in campus management systems

Campus Management Systems (CMSs) are vital tools in managing educational institutions, handling tasks like student enrollment, scheduling, and resource allocation. The increasing adoption of CMS for online and mixed-learning environments highlights their importance. However, inherent limitations in conventional CMS platforms hinder personalized student guidance and effective identification of academic challenges. Addressing this crucial gap, our study introduces an AI Student Success Predictor empowered by advanced machine learning algorithms, capable of automating grading processes, predicting student risks, and forecasting retention or dropout outcomes. Central to our approach is the creation of a standardized dataset, meticulously curated by integrating student information from diverse relational databases. A Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) feature learning block is developed the extract the hidden patterns in the student data. This classification model stands as an ensemble masterpiece, incorporating SVM, Random Forest, and KNN classifiers, subsequently refined by a Bayesian averaging model. The proposed ensemble model shows the ability to predict the student grades, retention, and risk levels of dropout. The accuracy achieved by the proposed model is assessed using test data, culminating in a commendable 93% accuracy for student grade prediction and student risk prediction, and a solid 92% accuracy for the complex domain of retention and dropout forecasting. The proposed AI system seamlessly integrates with existing CMS infrastructure, enabling real-time data retrieval and swift, accurate predictions, enhancing academic decision-making efficiency. Our study's pioneering AI Student Success Predictor bridges the chasm between traditional CMS limitations and the growing demands of modern education.

Linking social media addiction and student retention through the lenses of student engagement

PurposeThis research is designed to explore the relationship between social media addiction, student engagement and student retention. Social media addiction is dealt with as an independent variable student engagement acts as a mediating variable and student retention as a dependent variable.Design/methodology/approachThis is a cross-sectional and quantitative research. Primary data are collected from 600 respondents (university students) with the help of a structured questionnaire. Multistage sampling techniques, i.e. simple random sampling and judgment sampling, are used for the selection of respondents.FindingsResults indicate that for direct relationships, social media addiction has a significant positive impact on student engagement and student retention, respectively, while student engagement is partially mediating the relationship between social media addiction with student retention.Research limitations/implicationsIn the future, these kinds of research may also be conducted on students of different universities in Pakistan, which are located in other cities of Pakistan besides Lahore. This research provides a practical framework for the higher authorities of the universities of Pakistan and explains how the use of media positively fosters the levels of student retention directly and indirectly through the path of student engagement. It is commonly believed that media addiction is bad but the result of this research indicates that anything is not dangerous but depends upon its use, media addiction itself is not bad but if someone uses this for a good purpose in limitation then it has better outcomes. The result indicates that the media addiction of students has a positive impact on student retention. This means that if someone uses media for a positive purpose then he/she will use it as a supporting tool for success. Longitudinal research on these variables will also help to check the status after a specific interval of time.Practical implicationsThe current study will help the practitioners or policymakers (Managers) of higher education institutions by providing practical insights into the positive use of media by students for increasing their knowledge and grades. This research can also help practitioners or policymakers to focus their students on the positive use of social media for fostering the levels of student retention.Originality/valueTo the best of the researcher’s knowledge, no previous study has been done to incorporate social media addiction and student engagement in a single model in the Pakistani cultural context. Similarly, the relationship of variables social media addiction with student engagement is rarely checked empirically because the research of Wang et al. (2011) proposed that social media addiction has a relationship with student engagement so that is why this is the rationale of the research is to check this empirically. Moreover, this study is an initial effort to check the mediating effect of student engagement in the relationship between social media addiction and student retention. This research is also proposing the framework of social media addiction, student engagement and student retention based on the social exchange theory (SET).

Managing employee self-esteem in higher education: impact on individuals, organizations and society

PurposeOrganizations increasingly promote the health and well-being of their employees. There is a growing need for organizations to develop a long-term humanistic approach towards their workforce. This study aims to examine how self-esteem influences the organization, the employee and society within the context of higher education institutions.Design/methodology/approachThe research has been carried out among the teaching and research staff of a higher education institution in Spain. For this, a structured questionnaire was used. Data analysis was conducted using 272 valid questionnaires. A linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between self-esteem and the variables of the model.FindingsWe identified a positive correlation between self-esteem and productivity, job satisfaction and altruism, where significant differences were observed according to gender, age, seniority and professional category of the teaching staff. The results revealed that teachers with high self-esteem are more productive, satisfied and participate in more altruistic activities than their counterparts with low self-esteem.Originality/valueThis study reveals the importance that worker self-esteem has on their behavior in the work environment and in society as a whole, to improve the overall results of the organization. We identified self-esteem as an attribute that improves productivity, job satisfaction and altruism, that can be used to reduce job turnover intention and improve job retention levels, positively affecting the organization. We also contribute to the achievement of some Sustainable Development Goals. This study offers a theoretical contribution by extending the application of social learning theory to the context of self-esteem within higher education institutions.

Physiological Knowledge Loss in Fourth-Year Nursing Students

There is a growing concern that nursing students struggle to retain adequate physiological knowledge throughout their program to meet their entry to practice competencies. However, how much and what knowledge is lost and when this occurs over a four-year undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing program remains to be evaluated. Moreover, physiological knowledge retention has not been studied as extensively as anatomical knowledge retention in health care disciplines, including nursing programs (Narnaware, Y., 2021). Most of these studies are conducted after graduation (Aari et al., 2004) or focused on very limited systems (Pourshanazari et al., 2013). The present study aims to evaluate the level of physiological knowledge loss by nursing students in the fourth year between completing their physiology course in first-year nursing and fourth-year Critical Care nursing course . To evaluate physiological knowledge loss in the fourth year, nursing students were quizzed on ten organ systems using the online quizzing platform- Kahoot. Approximately nine to eleven knowledge and comprehension-level multiple-choice questions were delivered via kahoot. Then, these scores were compared to first-year quiz scores on the same content to determine overall knowledge loss over three years. Using SPSS II, the data was analyzed, and means were compared using 2-sample t-tests. The scores are described for each organ system by reporting the mean and standard deviation (±SD) with statistical significance set at P < 0.05 for all tests. The mean score of questions from all organ systems in year one was 62.89 ± 10.49 (±SD). Comparing that score to matched test items evaluated in the Critical Care course, there is a decrease in the overall mean score from 62.89 ± 10.49 (±SD) to 47.69 ± 8.23 (±SD). This equates to a 15.2% knowledge loss or 84.8% retention rate within three years. Organ-specific knowledge loss was highest for fluid and electrolytes (30.7%), hormones (28.6%), defences (22.5%), and reproductive physiology (22.5%), followed by renal physiology (19.7%). Knowledge loss was comparatively lower for blood (15.9%), inflammation (11.2%), vascular (7.5%) and respiratory physiology (4.7%). However, this loss was lowest for digestive physiology (-3.7%). The results of this study demonstrate a lower level of knowledge loss overall, with variations in loss being system-specific. The level of knowledge loss in the present study was significantly lower than previously reported in medical and allied health students (Pourshanazari et al., 2013) and lowest than anatomical knowledge retention levels in the same population (Narnaware and Neumeier, 2021). However, compared to the third year, knowledge loss in the fourth year is not significantly different (Narnaware et al., 2021). Applied for Teaching Physiology Section- Travel Fellowship Award. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

The Influence of Service Quality and Product Quality on The Royal Pita Maha Company Performance

Background: Company performance is a result of operational activities in using the company's resources. The successful contribution of employees will have an impact on the level of customer satisfaction, where satisfied customers will minimize the level of complaints and retention levels and play a role in assessing company performance as evaluation material for company management. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to determine the influence of service quality and product quality on company performance at The Royal Pita Maha. Method: This research is a type of associative research with a quantitative approach. The data collection method was carried out by direct observation, interviews and distributing questionnaires to 160 respondents, namely employees of The Royal Pita Maha who were selected using a non-probability sampling method with a quota sampling technique. The research instrument was tested using validity and reliability tests, then data analysis was carried out using multiple linear regression using SPSS. Results: The research results show that service quality has a positive and significant effect on company performance, as well as product quality has a positive and significant effect on company performance. Conclusion Based on the research results, it is hoped that company management can pay more attention to the company's operational activities through employee contributions in providing services so as to create a sense of security and comfort for customers and pay attention to the ingredients of the products provided so that they remain safe and last a long time so that the company's performance assessment can be even better.