National Teaching Research Articles

Current Situation and Thinking of Contemporary National Music Teaching

National music, as an important carrier for inheriting and promoting the excellent culture of the Chinese nation, has distinct, unique and profound national characteristics and aesthetic education value. National music teaching demonstrates the value concept of educating people with beauty and people-oriented, which is the concentrated embodiment of the core value of art courses. Based on the analysis of the current situation of national music teaching in my country, this paper proposes to focus on the cultural literacy of music teachers, improve the construction of national music teaching materials, and enhance the status of music education in school education, etc., to optimize the countermeasures of national music teaching in the new era, and provide a practical path for the widespread dissemination and popularization of national music in school education in my country.

The Art of Nursing.

Description I love the statement, "Nursing is an art and a science." I practiced at the bedside for 30 years, caring for my patients physically and mentally through all of life's stages. Quilting became my go-to activity when the work became too stressful and I needed to decompress. When I became a nurse educator, I made this quilted wall hanging for my office to remind me of those years and the reasons I became a nurse. The nurse applique was made from one of my scrub tops and replicates my work uniform, down to the ponytail I wore when I was younger, and my maroon stethoscope. It also includes nursing fabric that I have collected over the years, a bandana from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses' National Teaching Institute and a t-shirt I received as a gift when I was getting my Master's degree in nursing education. When I look at the quilt, I remember all the hard work of nursing school, the uncertainty during my first year as a nurse, and the changes in myself as I grew from novice to expert. I think of the patients we lost, the ones we saved, the family members that I laughed with, and those that I cried with. Nursing really chose me, not the other way around, and I am proud to say that I answered that call.

Factors associated with positive human papillomavirus (HPV) test results in cervical precancer screening: a cross-sectional study at Souro Sanou National Teaching Hospital (SSNTH) in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

Human papilloma virus testing is a new method of screening for precancerous cervical lesions. Here we identified factors associated to the positive Human papilloma virus-testing in the context of cervical precancer screening at the Souro Sanou National Teaching Hospital in Burkina Faso. Conducted from June 2021-May 2022, this was a cross-sectional study, including patients aged between 25 and 55years-old and screened for precancerous lesions and received HPV-testing at the Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine (DGORM) of the SSNTH. The proportion of positive HPV-test was calculated, and we identified factors associated to positive HPV-test using logistic regression. Of the 759 patients came for precancerous lesions screening, 559 patients were included. Their mean-age was 38.8 ± 7.9years-old, 94.3% were from urban area and 50.3% identified as housewives. Regarding the past medical history, it noted: number of gestures (3.2 ± 2.0), parity (2.8 ± 1.9), number of living children (2.8 ± 1.9), having abortion experience (24.0%), age of first-sexual-intercourse(18.6 ± 2.3years), alcohol (9.1%) and tobacco (1.0%) consumption, sexually-transmitted-infection (27.0%), Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)infection (5.0%); none had been vaccinated against HPV. Biologically, 16.6% [95% CI: 13.6-20] of the women had a positive HPV-test. The factors significantly associated with positive HPV-test were: occupation in the private sector [OR: 0.06(0.0-0.5); p < 0.001], having a sexually-transmitted-infection [OR: 3.9(2.0-7.7); p < 0.001], age of first-sexual-intercourse [OR: 0.7(0.6-0.9); p < 0.001], sexual-multiple-partnership [OR: 17.5(8.1-39.6); p < 0.001], and HIV status [OR: 13.2(4.4-40.5); p < 0.001]. These results call for health actions through the reinforcement for behavioral change mainly about sexually-transmitted-infections, and for the raising awareness of the population for the screening related to the precancerous lesions and HIV.

Ugandan optometry students’ experiences of their clinical training: a qualitative study

BackgroundThere is a gradual increase in the number of optometry education programs in Africa yet there is limited knowledge on optometry students’ experiences of their clinical training. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the optometry students’ experiences of their clinical learning environment at a national referral and teaching hospital in Uganda.MethodsBetween April 2023 and May 2023, face to face in-depth interviews were conducted to explore the experiences of the participants. All 16 optometry students in fourth-year at university were purposefully recruited into the study. Data was collected at the end of the students’ clinical training at the eye clinic of a national referral and teaching hospital. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed for analysis using an inductive thematic approach.ResultsTwo themes, learning at the eye clinic and organization of the eye clinic, were identified to represent participants’ experiences. Each theme had three sub themes.ConclusionTraining optometry students at an eye clinic enhances their clinical skills and knowledge of diagnosing and managing various eye conditions. Future studies should compare optometry students’ experiences in lower-level health units to those in national referral hospitals.

A narrative overview of undergraduate geriatric medicine education worldwide.

There is a mismatch between the healthcare needs of the ageing population worldwide and the amount of education medical students receive in geriatric medicine. In 2014, Mateos-Nozal et al. published a systematic review of all undergraduate education surveys in geriatric medicine-a decade on, it is timely for an up-to-date overview of the state of undergraduate geriatric medicine education globally. In this review, we outline the international evidence in the field, exploring the results of national and multi-national teaching surveys, and discussing the relative strengths and weaknesses of nationally recommended curricula. We set these findings in the context of ageing population demographics, concluding with recommendations for the future of education and educational research in geriatric medicine, that aims to build capacity in the healthcare workforce and improve quality of care for older people.

The impact of teacher work engagement on student engagement: Teaching quality as a mediator

Considering the significance of student engagement as a contributing factor to academic achievement, it is crucial to investigate the methods by which teachers can encourage learning engagement. To this end, we examined the influence of teacher work engagement on student engagement, placing a particular emphasis on the mediating impact of teaching quality. Chinese teachers (N = 291) at a national teaching seminar completed a survey. Structural equation modeling analysis of the data confirmed that teacher work engagement had a positive relationship with both teaching quality and student engagement. Moreover, teacher work engagement indirectly affected student engagement via its mediating impact on teaching quality. This research contributes to the elucidation of the underlying mechanism governing the association between teacher work engagement and student engagement.

Prevalence and associated factors of hypertension among people living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy in Benin’s National Teaching Hospital

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has extended the lifespan of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), exposing them to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Hypertension (HTN), the primary contributor to CVD burden, is increasingly concerning for PLHIV. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of hypertension in PLHIV on ART at the National Teaching Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga (HKM) of Benin using a prospective cross-sectional study conducted between October and December 2021. Patients who had a systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or/and diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg or/and current use of antihypertensive medication from medical records were considered to have HTN. A total of 352 patients, including 260 women with a sex ratio of 0.3 were included. The mean age was 42.9 ± 11.9 years. Most patients were educated and did not use tobacco. 42.0% were current alcohol drinkers. The duration of ART treatment ranged from 0 to 22 years, with a median duration of 5.0 years. 14.2% were hypertensives with 3.1% newly diagnosed and 11.1% known with hypertension. Age above 40 years, living with a partner, alcohol consumption and body mass index greater than 25 were significantly associated with HTN. HTN in PLHIV is associated with numerous factors. Reducing the burden of the disease in target people in Benin requires a wide range of actions that need to be implemented.

Impact of contextual factors on the evaluation outcomes of national virtual simulation experimental teaching projects in biology and medicine

The number of applications for National Virtual Simulation Experimental Teaching Projects (NVSETPs) in China has seen a significant increase. Consequently, the influence of contextual factors and their potential personal connections on the evaluation results, whether for national or non-national NVSETPs, has become a prominent concern. In this study, we employed a modified back-chaining method using logistic regression to examine whether contextual factors in NVSETP applications could explain the evaluation outcomes. Our analysis was based on data available on the open platform of China's Ministry of Education (MOE). We identified several significant influencing factors, including the score on a five-point rating system, the number of clicks on the application page, school quality, school region, and the gender, title, and position of the applicants. Our results shed light on the impact of contextual factors on the evaluation results of NVSETPs in the fields of biology and medicine, using a modified back-chaining method. We conclude that enhancing the transparency of the assessment process and implementing standardized, detailed scoring guidelines for NVSETPs would mitigate the negative influence of contextual factors.

Clinical profile and associated comorbidities of cerebral palsy in children visiting Orotta National Referral Hospital, Eritrea: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundCerebral Palsy (CP) is one of the most common physical disabilities in children. This study aimed to explore the clinical spectrum of CP at Orotta National Referral and Teaching Hospital, including CP subtypes, gross motor function, patterns of associated comorbidities, and possible risk factors in children aged 2 to 12 years.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2022 in 153 children with suspected motor symptoms. The Surveillance of CP in Europe (SCPE) decision tree was used as an inclusion criteria guideline and the evaluation of the participants was done using a standardized questionnaire and clinical examination. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and logistic regression were employed to statistically analyze the data.ResultsEighty-four children who fulfilled the clinical criteria were included in the study. The median age was 5-years [IQR: 3.8] with an equal distribution of males and females. Quadriplegic CP was the most common subtype (51.2%) followed by unilateral (hemiplegic) CP (22.6%), and dyskinetic CP (14.3%). Most children had severe gross motor impairment GMFCS level IV-V and females were almost three times more likely to have GMFCS level IV/V than males (AOR: 2.70; CI: 1.08–6.72; p-value = 0.033.) More than half (52.4%) of the neonates either did not cry within five minutes and/or needed breathing resuscitation, 55.3% had to be admitted to the NICU with a median of 5 days’ hospital stay. Between the first week of birth and the first year of life, 28.6% had trouble feeding, 26.2% had an infection, 10.7% had difficulty breathing, 20.2% had seizures and 6% had jaundice. Feeding problems (64.3%), speech problems of some sort (91.7%), and epilepsy (46.4%) were the most commonly associated comorbidities with CP.ConclusionsThe clinical profile of the CP patients was found to be dominated by the spastic subtype and moderate to severe disability. Since perinatal risk factors were found to be dominant, strengthening maternal and child healthcare systems is recommended to minimize incidents of preventable risk factors and the burden of the disability.

Analyzing the Logistics of the Brazilian Book and Teaching Material Program: a sociotechnical strategy to inform optimization

The National Book and Teaching Material Program, formulated and executed by the Brazilian Ministry of Education and the National Education Development Fund, aims to ensure that students and teachers in Brazilian public schools have the constitutional right to access teaching materials. The program's logistics are complex, requiring the timely and cost-effective delivery of thousands of tons of teaching materials to public schools across thousands of Brazilian municipalities. A sociotechnical analysis is essential to comprehend the logistics challenges of such a program, as it enables considering social, normative, and technical aspects in a comprehensive and integrated manner. This article presents a qualitative analysis of the program logistics by applying different sociotechnical artifacts. The findings reveal a complex problem involving diverse processes and stakeholders who must adhere to several norms, adopt different computer systems, and rely on a direct and intense communication culture. Identifying key attention points and acknowledging the unique Brazilian context, the article argues that a sociotechnical perspective is crucial for understanding the problem's complexity and informing the design of solutions to optimize the program’s logistics.

On the problems of education of national minorities in Kazakhstan in the 20s and 30s of the XXcentury (on the materials of Northern Kazakhstan)

The article is an analysis of the problem of education of national minorities in Kazakhstan in the 20–30 years of the XX centuries.The focus of the researchers is on the initial period of Soviet power, when the processes of modernization and national self-determination intensified in the country. The main trends in the creation of the school system of national minorities, such as the opening of national schools, national cultural and educa-tional institutions, training of national teaching staff are considered. The peculiarity of the ethnic structure of the population of Kazakhstan in the studied period was the diversity of its national composition as a result of the active resettlement policy of the Russian Empire and migration processes of the Soviet period. The au-thors also pay attention to regional peculiarities in the development of the school system in Kazakhstan.The specificity of Northern Kazakhstan was that the German, Ukrainian, and Tatar populations were represented to a greater extent here; accordingly, the provincial education authorities paid special attention to the creation of schools for these ethnic groups, the number of which was increasing every year. The authors dwell sepa-rately on the problems and difficulties encountered by local education authorities —the lack of educational literature in the native language, the lack of basic conditions for organizing educational activities for national minorities, weak teaching staff, and the lack of experience in carrying out effective work to solve these prob-lems. The main reasons for overcoming these difficulties were the great diversity and dispersion of the popuation of Kazakhstan, the peculiarities of its economic way of life, the colonial past, the lack of specialists in local authorities to solve the problems of national minorities, the lack of funds for the development of nation-al schools.

Implementation of Single National Curriculum Mathematics 2020 Intended and Enacted Determinants Perspective at Primary Level in Punjab

The current study was framed to determine the gap between intended and enacted single national mathematics curriculum implementation determinants instructional material, teaching methods, formative assessment, and teachers’ professional development. The nature of the study was quantitative descriptive based on the survey method. Single National Curriculum of Mathematics Implementation Questionnaire for Teachers (SNCMIQT) was developed for data collection from public primary school mathematics teachers. Content validity of SNCMIQT was ensured by five curriculum education experts and reliability was calculated employing Cronbach’s Alpha score; .918, and used to collect the data from the sample of 230 teachers selected through a simple random sampling technique. The collected data were analyzed by applying descriptive and inferential statistics. The study results revealed that 82% of mathematics curriculum determinants were implemented and an 18% gap existed regarding SNC mathematics. The results further, showed that 78% of instructional materials were in use and a 22% gap existed regarding instructional materials. The results declared that 78% of teaching methods were used according to the SNC and a 22% gap existed in teaching methods. The results declared that 87% of formative assessment techniques were in use, while a 13% gap existed regarding the usage of formative assessment. The results revealed that 87% of teachers were provided with teacher training, while 13% were not provided with teacher training, furthermore, results declared no significant difference between locale curriculum implementation determinants. Based on the results of the study, it was recommended that the government provide funds for mathematics instructional materials; learning labs, teaching kits, and learning gadgets for the mathematics curriculum. The education department and head teachers ensured the implementation of curriculum-based teaching methods and formative assessment strategies. Teachers training institutions may provide mathematics curriculum-based teachers training on the usage of instructional materials, teaching methods, and assessment. Head teachers may bind teachers in using instructional materials, teaching methods, and formative assessment techniques for effective SNC mathematics curriculum implementation.

Facteurs influençant le délai de prise en charge aux urgences chirurgicales du CHU Sourô Sanou

Assessing patient turnaround times is essential for improving the quality of care in emergency service departments. This study looked at waiting and treatment times, and their associated factors, in the surgical emergency service department at the Souro Sanou National Teaching Hospital (SSNTH) in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. This study was carried out on 380 patients with a median age of thirty-eight. The sex ratio was 0.54. In 63.7 percent of cases, the participants lived in urban areas. Most of the patients surveyed were farmers (34.7 percent). The median waiting time for patients was eleven minutes. The nature of the trauma sustained was associated with the waiting time. The median time taken to administer first aid was sixty-three minutes, with the unavailability of medication at the hospital pharmacy cited as a factor contributing to this delay. The median time taken to obtain paraclinical results was 134 minutes and 102 minutes for laboratory tests and scans, respectively. The factor associated with delays in obtaining scan results was the need for surgical intervention. The median waiting time for surgery was 24.3 hours. The turnaround times in the SSNTH surgical emergency department are long. For the improvement of patient turnaround times to be possible, an overhaul of the department is in order. In particular, a rapid consultation team needs to be established, and essential drugs for emergency care need to be made readily available.

CMALT cMOOC

This paper outlines the design stage of a project that reimagines lecturer professional development around a network of communities of practice scaffolded by a cMOOC (connectivist Massive Open Online Course), where sustained collaborative engagement with innovative teaching practice is recognised via established international peer-based professional accreditation pathways such as CMALT (Certified Member of the Association for Learning Technology). Informed by a design based research methodology, the CMALT cMOOC leverages a network of national and international collaboration and innovative teaching expertise, providing an agile and scalable framework to support the development of participants’ CMALT portfolios as evidence of critical engagement with new modes of practice and enhanced student outcomes.

FEATURES AND POTENTIALS OF NON-FORMAL ADULT EDUCATION IN UKRAINIAN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

The aim of the article ii to define features and potentials of non-formal adult education in Ukrainian educational environment that is focused on adult learners` development and motivation; effective change management; the challenge of real life adult learners can face; ability to prove adult learners can use knowledge to introduce themselves professionally and communicate effectively in everyday situations and work. General scientific methods such as analysis, synthesis and generalization of the scientific information on different theoretical approaches to the problem of non-formal adult education have been used. One of the most important tasks at the present stage of modernizing non-formal adult education in national teaching and learning process is to ensure teaching quality according to both national and international requirements as well as support adult learners in delivering successful learning preparing them for future challenges. This issue is partly a reaction to the rapid changes in technologies adult learners can see around and experience on a daily basis. Information technologies, effective tools and timely forehanded receiving of information are becoming essential and crucial factors in the teaching lifelong education process. There is a need to bring into focus the non-formal adult education process to improve the design and structure of adult learning opportunities. In this article, we address concepts and approaches, which are equipped with appropriate innovative-based effective tools in accordance with the latest requirements identifying key issues that emerge in non-formal adult education, introducing them as substantial elements of teachers’ professional competence and their effective use in lifelong education process. Particular attention is paid to the teacher`s role and significance in nonformal adult education making such a process more meaningful for adult learners.

Reflections on the status of protection of the rights of persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities in Kenya

Commissioner Prof Marion Mutugi, Kenya National Commissionon Human Rights (KNCHR), Prof Ronald Chepkilot, Deputy ViceChancellor (Administration and Finance), Kabarak University, DrHarun Hassan, Executive Director, National Council for Persons withDisabilities, Dr Bernard Mogesa, Secretary, KNCHR, Dr Julius Ogato,the Chief Executive Officer, Mathari National Teaching and ReferralHospital, Mr William Aseka, Programme Manager - Africa, ValidityFoundation, Representative of the Kenya Prisons Service, Nakuru, MrHenry Opondo, Chairperson of the Law Society of Kenya, NakuruChapter, Representatives of civil society organisations working in thearea of mental health rights, faculty and students of Kabarak University,esteemed guests, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.

Edpidemiology, Clinical Profile and Short- Term Outcome of Hypertensive Crisis in N'Djamena (Chad)

Objective Hypertensive crisis is an increasingly frequent medical condition in our context. Its management in medical emergencies is a real challenge for physicians. Few data on hypertensive crisis are available in Chad. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological, clinical and prognostic characteristics of hypertensive crisis in the medical emergency department of Reference National Teaching Hospital in N'Djamena. Patient and methods This was a prospective cohort study running from 1er March 2020 to October 31 2020. Patients presenting with a sudden and severe rise in blood pressure (systolic ≥ 180 mmHg and/or diastolic ≥ 110 mmHg) with or without acute target-organs damage, had been consecutively included and followed up over a period of one (01) month. Epidemic and clinical characteristics on admission, and morbidity and mortality parameters during the course of the disease were collected. The Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox model were used to analyze survival and factors associated with death, with a significance level of p&lt;0.05. Results Of the 3978 hypertensive patients admitted to medical emergencies, 252 had a hypertensive crisis, i.e. a prevalence of 6.3%. Two hundred and seventeen (217) patients were included in the study, divided into 149 cases (69%) of hypertensive emergency and 67 cases (31%) of hypertensive hypertensive urgencies. The mean age of the patients was 55.2 ± 14 years (20 and 80 years) and 67% were male. Hypertension was known in 138 patients (64%). At least one complication was present on admission in 69% of patients. Complications were classified as cardiac (50.7%), neurological (38.2%), kidney impairment (46.5%) and ocular (46.1%). The average number of antihypertensive drugs used was 2 ± 0.83 1, 4. Calcium antagonists (86.5%), diuretics (35.5%), converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor antagonists (33.3%) and betablockers (18%) were the pharmacological classes prescribed. Good compliance during follow-up was observed in 124 patients. One-month survival was 84% for all patients, with a 16% mortality rate. Factors associated with death were the duration of hypertension, and the occurrence of cardiovascular, renal dysfunction and ocular disease (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion Hypertensive crisis is a frequent pathology in sub-Saharan Africa, with high morbidity and mortality. Prevention requires early detection and effective management of hypertension.

Pulmonary Tuberculosis in the Elderly: Epidemiological, Clinical, and Evolutionary Aspects

Aims: this study aimed to investigate the epidemiological, clinical, and evolutionary aspects of pulmonary tuberculosis in the elderly and to determine the factors associated with death. &#x0D; Study Design: This was an exhaustive, descriptive, and analytical retrospective study.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: Pneumo-phtisiology department of Fann National Teaching Hospital Center over three years, from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2021.&#x0D; Methodology: This was a study using medical records of patients aged 60 and over hospitalized in the pneumo-phtisiology department. Data were collected on a pre-established from patient medical records entered with Microsoft Excel 2019 software. Data analysis was performed with Statistical Package for Sciences Socials (SPSS) version 18&#x0D; Results: we collected 620 medical records of hospitalized patients aged 60 and over, 69 of whom were diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, standing for a prevalence of 11.12%. The average age was 67.13 [60;85] years, with a sex ratio of 3.92. The 60 to 65 age group was the most represented (n=36 or 52.17%). Smoking and alcoholism were frequent, 82% and 17.4% respectively. A previous history of TB infection was found in 23.19% of cases and TB contagion in 20.3% of cases. An underlying condition was at least observed in 50.72% of patients, dominated by diabetes (29%) and hypertension (23%). Co-infection with HIV-1 and tuberculosis was found in 2 patients (3%). The time to consultation was 75 days [3-180 days]. Symptomatology was polymorphic, dominated by cough (n=65; 94.20%), altered general condition (n=63; 91.30%), sputum (n=58; 84.06%), fever (n=53; 76.81%) and dyspnea (n=47; 68.12%). 46 patients (66.7%) had a BMI &lt; 18.5 kg/m2. Physical signs were dominated by pulmonary condensation (n=52; 75.36%), and a fold of undernutrition was noted in 21.74% of cases. Microbiological evidence was 92.75% and 64 patients (92.75%) were susceptible to rifampin. A rifampin-resistant strain was detected in 5 patients (7.25%) hospitalized in the MDR-TB unit. CRP (75.36%), anemia (68.18%), hyperleukocytosis (47.7%), and hyponatremia (27.54%) were the most frequent biological signs.&#x0D; Alveolar syndrome (n=48 or 70%) and cavitary images (n=34 or 50%) were most frequently found on lung radiography, and for those who benefited from thoracic CT (n=36 or 52.17%), cavitary images were found in 24 cases (66.66%).&#x0D; Pulmonary embolism (n=9 cases, i.e. 40.9%), superinfection (n=4), and excessive hemoptysis (n=3) were the most frequent complications. The mean length of hospital stay was 17 days [3-58 days]. The 2RHZE/4RH protocol was used for 87%. Two patients were placed on a second-line anti-tuberculosis treatment protocol. Treatment was not specified in 7 patients (10.14%). The progression was favorable in 48 patients (69.56% of cases), with a case fatality rate of 30.44%. Dyspnea, chest pain, anemia, hyperleukocytosis, and hyponatremia were associated with the risk of death.&#x0D; Conclusion: The elderly are particularly exposed to tuberculosis, due to physiological aging of the immune system and co-morbidities. This study highlighted the diagnostic and evolutionary particularities of pulmonary tuberculosis in the elderly, as well as the associated fatal factors.

Pulmonary dimorphic fungal infections among HIV/AIDS non-TB patients with chronic cough in Kampala, Uganda.

Dimorphic fungi cause infection following the inhalation of spores into the pulmonary system. In the lower respiratory tract, the conidia transform into yeasts, which are engulfed by alveolar macrophages and may be destroyed without disease manifestation. However, in some immunocompromised individuals, they may persist and cause active fungal disease characterized by formation of granulomas in the infected tissues, which may mimic Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). To determine the prevalence of pulmonary dimorphic fungal infections among HIV/AIDS patients with non-TB chronic cough at Mulago National Referral and Teaching Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. Sputum samples were collected from 175 consented HIV/AIDS patients attending the immuno-suppression syndrome (ISS) clinic at the hospital. Upon Xpert MTB/RIF sputum testing, 21 patients tested positive for MTB, and these were excluded from further analysis. The other 154 sputum negative samples were then subjected to PCR for dimorphic fungi at MBN Clinical Laboratories. Singleplex PCR was used to detect the target sequences in selected respective genes of each dimorphic fungal species of interest. DNA amplicons were detected based on gel electrophoresis. Dimorphic fungi were detected in 16.2% (25/154) of the studied population. Of these 9.1% (14/154) had Blastomyces dermatitidis and 7.1% (11/154) had Talaromyces marneffei. The remaining 84% of the studied participants had no dimorphic fungi. Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioides immitis and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis were not detected in any of the participants. Dimorphic fungi (B. dermatitidis and T. marneffei) were found in 16.2% of the HIV/AIDS patients with non-TB chronic cough in Kampala, Uganda. We recommend routine testing for these pathogens among HIV/AIDS patients with chronic cough.

Elementary teachers’ pedagogical competencies in supporting students with learning difficulties

&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;Pedagogical competency is one of four competencies that all teachers need to be proficient within the Indonesian National Teaching Standards. Yet, there is limited understanding of how these competencies relate to inclusive education practice. This study used a combination of survey and interview data to explore the pedagogical skills of elementary teachers working in inclusive schools. Survey data showed that teachers utilized a range of accommodations and modifications within their classrooms to assist them to be inclusive of all students. These accommodations and modifications were often associated with support from other persons (e.g., shadow teacher, parents, peers). While teachers expressed frustration with the learning of students, interview data found that teacher frustration was more about their perceived inability to meet the needs of students. Directions for on-going work to investigate and enhance teacher pedagogical competence within the context of inclusive education Indonesia are discussed.&lt;/span&gt;