bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Value of conventional magnetic resonance imaging texture analysis in the differential diagnosis of benign and borderline/malignant phyllodes tumors of the breast
Authors: Li Xiaoguang , Jiang Nianping , Zhang Chunlai , Luo Xiangguo , Zhong Peng , Fang Jingqin
Published: March 2021

Background

The purpose of this study was to determine the potential value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) texture analysis (TA) in differentiating between benign and borderline/malignant phyllodes tumors of the breast.

Methods

The preoperative MRI data of 25 patients with benign phyllodes tumors (BPTs) and 19 patients with borderline/malignant phyllodes tumors (BMPTs) were retrospectively analyzed. A gray-level histogram and gray-level cooccurrence matrix (GLCM) were used for TA with fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging (FS-T2WI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) images, and 2- and 7-min postcontrast T1W images on dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-T1WI2min and DCE-T1WI7min) between BPTs and BMPTs. Independent sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were performed for intergroup comparison. A regression model was established by using binary logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was carried out to evaluate diagnostic efficiency.

Results

For ADC images, the texture parameters angular second moment (ASM), correlation, contrast, entropy and the minimum gray values of ADC images (ADCMinimum) showed significant differences between the BPT group and BMPT group (all p<0.05). The parameter entropy of FS-T2WI and the maximum gray values and kurtosis of the tumor solid region of DCE-T1WI7min also showed significant differences between these two groups. Except for ADCMinimum, angular second moment of FS-T2WI (FS-T2WIASM), and the maximum gray values of DCE-T1WI7min (DCE-T1WI7min-Maximum) of the tumor solid region, the AUC values of other positive texture parameters mentioned above were greater than 0.75. Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the contrast of ADC images (ADCContrast) and entropy of FS-T2WI (FS-T2WIEntropy) could be considered independent texture variables for the differential diagnosis of BPTs and BMPTs. Combined, the AUC of these parameters was 0.891 (95% CI: 0.793–0.988), with a sensitivity of 84.2% and a specificity of up to 89.0%.

Conclusion

Texture analysis could be helpful in improving the diagnostic efficacy of conventional MR images in differentiating BPTs and BMPTs.
Patient Preferences for Outcomes Following DCIS Management Strategies: A Discrete Choice Experiment
Authors: Chapman Brittany M. , Yang Jui-Chen , Gonzalez Juan Marcos , Havrilesky Laura , Reed Shelby D. , Hwang E. Shelley
Published: March 2021

PURPOSE:

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a nonobligate precursor of breast cancer, is often aggressively managed with multimodal therapy. However, there is limited research on patients' preferences for trade-offs among treatment-related outcomes such as breast appearance, side effects, and future cancer risk. We sought to investigate whether women consider treatment features aside from cancer risk when making treatment choices for ductal carcinoma in situ and if so, to what degree other features influence these decisions.

METHODS:

A discrete choice experiment was administered to participants in a comprehensive cancer screening mammography clinic. The experimental design was used to generate constructed health profiles resulting from different management strategies. Health profiles were defined by breast appearance, severity of infection within the first year, chronic pain, hot flashes, and risk of developing or dying from breast cancer within 10 years.

RESULTS:

One hundred ninety-four women without a personal history of breast cancer completed the choice task. Across 10 choice questions, 29% always selected the health profile with a lower risk of invasive breast cancer (ie, dominated on cancer risk), regardless of the effects of treatment. For nonrisk dominators, breast cancer risk remained the most important factor but was closely followed by chronic pain (24% [95% CI, 20 to 28]) and infection (22% [95% CI, 18 to 25]). Depending on treatment outcomes, the tolerable increase in breast cancer risk was as high as 3.4%.

CONCLUSION:

Most women were willing to make some trade-offs between invasive cancer risk and treatment-related outcomes. Our findings highlight the importance of shared decision-making weighing risks and benefits between patient and provider management of low-risk disease.
Time to Treatment Initiation for Breast Cancer During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Hawrot Kathryn , Shulman Lawrence N. , Bleiweiss Ira J. , Wilkie Elizabeth J. , Frosch Zachary A. K. , Jankowitz Rachel C. , Laughlin Amy I.
Published: March 2021

PURPOSE:

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant pressures on healthcare systems, raising concern that related care delays will result in excess cancer-related deaths. Because data regarding the impact on patients with breast cancer are urgently needed, we aimed to provide a preliminary estimate of the impact of COVID-19 on time to treatment initiation (TTI) for patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer cared for at a large academic center.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective study of patients with newly diagnosed early-stage breast cancer between January 1, 2020, and May 15, 2020, a time period during which care was affected by COVID-19, and an unaffected cohort diagnosed between January 1, 2018 and May 15, 2018. Outcomes included patient volume, TTI, and initial treatment modality. Adjusted TTI was compared using multivariable linear regression.

RESULTS:

Three hundred sixty-six patients were included. There was an 18.8% decrease in patient volume in 2020 (n = 164) versus 2018 (n = 202). There was no association between time of diagnosis (pre-COVID-19 or during COVID-19) and adjusted TTI ( P = .926). There were fewer in situ diagnoses in the 2020 cohort ( P = .040). There was increased use of preoperative systemic therapy in 2020 (43.9% overall, 20.7% chemotherapy, and 23.2% hormonal therapy) versus 2018 (16.4% overall, 12.4% chemotherapy, and 4.0% hormonal therapy) ( P < .001).

CONCLUSION:

TTI was maintained among patients diagnosed and treated for breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic at a single large academic center. There was a decrease in patient volume, specifically in patients with in situ disease and a shift in initial therapy toward the use of preoperative hormonal therapy.
Reducing NF-κB Signaling Nutritionally is Associated with Expedited Recovery of Skeletal Muscle Function After Damage
Authors: Jameson Tom S O , Pavis George F , Dirks Marlou L , Lee Benjamin P , Abdelrahman Doaa R , Murton Andrew J , Porter Craig , Alamdari Nima , Mikus Catherine R , Wall Benjamin T , Stephens Francis B
Published: March 2021

Context

The early events regulating the remodeling program following skeletal muscle damage are poorly understood.

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine the association between myofibrillar protein synthesis (myoPS) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling by nutritionally accelerating the recovery of muscle function following damage.

Design, Setting, Participants, and Interventions

Healthy males and females consumed daily postexercise and prebed protein-polyphenol (PP; n = 9; 4 females) or isocaloric maltodextrin placebo (PLA; n = 9; 3 females) drinks (parallel design) 6 days before and 3 days after 300 unilateral eccentric contractions of the quadriceps during complete dietary control.

Main Outcome Measures

Muscle function was assessed daily, and skeletal muscle biopsies were taken after 24, 27, and 36 hours for measurements of myoPS rates using deuterated water, and gene ontology and NF-κB signaling analysis using a quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) gene array.

Results

Eccentric contractions impaired muscle function for 48 hours in PLA intervention, but just for 24 hours in PP intervention (P = 0.047). Eccentric quadricep contractions increased myoPS compared with the control leg during postexercise (24–27 hours; 0.14 ± 0.01 vs 0.11 ± 0.01%·h-1, respectively; P = 0.075) and overnight periods (27–36 hours; 0.10 ± 0.01 vs 0.07 ± 0.01%·h-1, respectively; P = 0.020), but was not further increased by PP drinks (P > 0.05). Protein-polyphenol drinks decreased postexercise and overnight muscle IL1R1 (PLA = 2.8 ± 0.4, PP = 1.1 ± 0.4 and PLA = 1.9 ± 0.4, PP = 0.3 ± 0.4 log2 fold-change, respectively) and IL1RL1 (PLA = 4.9 ± 0.7, PP = 1.6 ± 0.8 and PLA = 3.7 ± 0.6, PP = 0.7 ± 0.7 log2 fold-change, respectively) messenger RNA expression (P < 0.05) and downstream NF-κB signaling compared with PLA.

Conclusion

Protein-polyphenol drink ingestion likely accelerates recovery of muscle function by attenuating inflammatory NF-κB transcriptional signaling, possibly to reduce aberrant tissue degradation rather than increase myoPS rates.
A landmark-free morphometrics pipeline for high-resolution phenotyping: application to a mouse model of Down syndrome
Authors: Toussaint Nicolas , Redhead Yushi , Vidal-García Marta , Lo Vercio Lucas , Liu Wei , Fisher Elizabeth M. C. , Hallgrímsson Benedikt , Tybulewicz Victor L. J. , Schnabel Julia A. , Green Jeremy B. A.
Published: March 2021

Characterising phenotypes often requires quantification of anatomical shape. Quantitative shape comparison (morphometrics) traditionally uses manually located landmarks and is limited by landmark number and operator accuracy. Here, we apply a landmark-free method to characterise the craniofacial skeletal phenotype of the Dp1Tyb mouse model of Down syndrome and a population of the Diversity Outbred (DO) mouse model, comparing it with a landmark-based approach. We identified cranial dysmorphologies in Dp1Tyb mice, especially smaller size and brachycephaly (front-back shortening), homologous to the human phenotype. Shape variation in the DO mice was partly attributable to allometry (size-dependent shape variation) and sexual dimorphism. The landmark-free method performed as well as, or better than, the landmark-based method but was less labour-intensive, required less user training and, uniquely, enabled fine mapping of local differences as planar expansion or shrinkage. Its higher resolution pinpointed reductions in interior mid-snout structures and occipital bones in both the models that were not otherwise apparent. We propose that this landmark-free pipeline could make morphometrics widely accessible beyond its traditional niches in zoology and palaeontology, especially in characterising developmental mutant phenotypes.
The p97–UBXN1 complex regulates aggresome formation
Authors: Mukkavalli Sirisha , Klickstein Jacob Aaron , Ortiz Betty , Juo Peter , Raman Malavika
Published: March 2021

The recognition and disposal of misfolded proteins is essential for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Perturbations in the pathways that promote degradation of aberrant proteins contribute to a variety of protein aggregation disorders broadly termed proteinopathies. The AAA-ATPase p97 (also known as VCP), in combination with adaptor proteins, functions to identify ubiquitylated proteins and target them for degradation by the proteasome or through autophagy. Mutations in p97 cause multi-system proteinopathies; however, the precise defects underlying these disorders are unclear. Here, we systematically investigate the role of p97 and its adaptors in the process of formation of aggresomes, membrane-less structures containing ubiquitylated proteins that arise upon proteasome inhibition. We demonstrate that p97 mediates aggresome formation and clearance, and identify a novel role for the adaptor UBXN1 in the process of aggresome formation. UBXN1 is recruited to aggresomes, and UBXN1-knockout cells are unable to form aggresomes. Loss of p97–UBXN1 results in increased Huntingtin polyQ inclusion bodies both in mammalian cells and in a C. elegans model of Huntington's disease. Together, our results identify evolutionarily conserved roles for p97–UBXN1 in the disposal of protein aggregates.
Effect of olanzapine combined with risperidone in the treatment of schizophrenia and its influence on cognitive function
Authors: Yang Lujie , Qi Xia
Published: March 2021

Objective: To explore the effect of risperidone combined with olanzapine in the treatment of schizophrenia and its influence on cognitive function.

Methods: Ninety-eight schizophrenic patients in our hospital who were admitted and treated between June 2018 and December 2019 were selected. The study group was treated with risperidone combined with olanzapine, and the control group was treated with risperidone. The clinical efficacy, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) score, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) result and adverse reactions of the two groups were compared.

Results: After treatment, the scores of classification completion number and correct times of the observation group were higher than those of the control group, and the scores of the random error number and continuous error number were higher than those of the control group; the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group was 95.56%, which was higher than 77.78% of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the PANSS scores of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). The total incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group and control group were 9.30% and 6.98%, respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Risperidone combined with olanzapine in the treatment of schizophrenia can effectively reduce symptoms of patients and induce fewer adverse reactions, showing high safety and significant treatment effect.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.3.3348

How to cite this:Yang L, Qi X. Effect of olanzapine combined with risperidone in the treatment of schizophrenia and its influence on cognitive function. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(3):646-650. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.3.3348

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Body Image Dissatisfaction, Eating Disorders, and Associated Factors in Brazilian Professional Ballroom Dancers
Authors: Cardoso Allana Alexandre , Reis Nycolle Martins , Moratelli Jéssica , Borgatto Adriano , Resende Rui , de Souza Guidarini Fernanda Christina , de Azevedo Guimarães Adriana Coutinho
Published: March 2021

The search for movement plasticity causes dancers to seek to achieve and maintain low body weight, which can lead to dissatisfaction with their body image and to eating disorders. The purpose of this study was to analyze body image satisfaction and the presence of eating disorders and
associated factors in professional ballroom dancers in Brazil. Three hundred and twenty dancers took part via a self-reported questionnaire. The majority of the dancers proved to be dissatisfied with their body image; the increase with age of body mass index (BMI) influenced the dissatisfaction
due to excess weight. It is concluded that body image is associated with eating disorders, age, and BMI in ballroom dancers.
„I tu leży wampir pogrzebany” – powiedzenia, przysłowia, frazeologizmy w przekładach wybranych utworów Andrzeja Sapkowskiego na język rosyjski
Authors: Dziwisz Marcin
Published: March 2021

And Here Lies a Buried Vampire: Sayings, Proverbs, Idioms in Translations of Selected Works by Andrzej Sapkowski into Russian

This paper elaborates on ways of proverbs and sayings transition, presentin A. Sapkowski’s works, into Russian. Gathered material was discussed from the perspective of both original and translation texts. Analysis covered idiomatic phrases, created by the author, as well as real, existingones, that were subjected to different kinds of modifications in the Polishtext. The presence of this kind of stylistic devices can be considered in a context of realization of the author’s idiolect features in translation text, which makes proper transition of described units so vitally important. It is due to the fact that they become a distinctive feature of Sapkowski style, and should be reflected in the Russian text.
A Mixed-Integer Fractional Optimization Approach to Best Subset Selection
Authors: Gómez Andrés , Prokopyev Oleg A.
Published: March 2021

We consider the best subset selection problem in linear regression—that is, finding a parsimonious subset of the regression variables that provides the best fit to the data according to some predefined criterion. We are primarily concerned with alternatives to cross-validation methods that do not require data partitioning and involve a range of information criteria extensively studied in the statistical literature. We show that the problem of interest can be modeled using fractional mixed-integer optimization, which can be tackled by leveraging recent advances in modern optimization solvers. The proposed algorithms involve solving a sequence of mixed-integer quadratic optimization problems (or their convexifications) and can be implemented with off-the-shelf solvers. We report encouraging results in our computational experiments, with respect to both the optimization and statistical performance.

Summary of Contribution: This paper considers feature selection problems with information criteria. We show that by adopting a fractional optimization perspective (a well-known field in nonlinear optimization and operations research), it is possible to leverage recent advances in mixed-integer quadratic optimization technology to tackle traditional statistical problems long considered intractable. We present extensive computational experiments, with both synthetic and real data, illustrating that the new fractional optimization approach is orders of magnitude faster than existing approaches in the literature.
An Analytic Framework for Effective Public Health Program Design Using Correctional Facilities
Authors: Araz Ozgur M. , Cruz-Aponte Mayteé , Wilson Fernando A. , Hanisch Brock W. , Margalit Ruth S.
Published: March 2021

We present a decision analytic framework that uses a mathematical model of Chlamydia trachomatis transmission dynamics in two interacting populations using ordinary differential equations. A public health survey informs model parametrization, and analytical findings guide the computational design of the decision-making process. The potential impact of jail-based screen-treat (S-T) programs on community health outcomes is presented. Numerical experiments are conducted for a case study population to quantify the effect and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of considered interventions. Numerical experiments show the effectiveness of increased jail S-T rates on community cases when resources for a community S-T program stays constant. Although this effect decreases when higher S-T rates are in place, jail-based S-T programs are cost-effective relative to community-based programs.

Summary of Contribution: Public health programs have been developed to control community-wide infectious diseases and to reduce prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD). These programs can consist of screening and treatment of diseases and behavioral interventions. Public correctional facilities play an important role in operational execution of these public health programs. However, because of lack of capacity and resources, public health programs using correctional facilities are questioned by policy-makers in terms of their costs and benefits. In this article, we present an analytical framework using a computational epidemiology model for supporting public health policy making. The system represents the dynamics of Chlamydia trachomatis transmission in two interacting populations, with an ordinary differential equations-based simulation model. The theoretical epidemic control conditions are derived and numerically tested, which guide the design of simulation experiments. Then cost-effectiveness of the potential policies is analyzed. We also present an extensive sensitivity analyses on model parameters. This study contributes to the computational epidemiology literature by presenting an analytical framework to guide effective simulation experimentation for policy decision making. The presented methodology can be applied to other complex policy and public health problems.
Smart “Predict, then Optimize”
Authors: Elmachtoub Adam N. , Grigas Paul
Published: March 2021

Many real-world analytics problems involve two significant challenges: prediction and optimization. Because of the typically complex nature of each challenge, the standard paradigm is predict-then-optimize. By and large, machine learning tools are intended to minimize prediction error and do not account for how the predictions will be used in the downstream optimization problem. In contrast, we propose a new and very general framework, called Smart “Predict, then Optimize” (SPO), which directly leverages the optimization problem structure—that is, its objective and constraints—for designing better prediction models. A key component of our framework is the SPO loss function, which measures the decision error induced by a prediction. Training a prediction model with respect to the SPO loss is computationally challenging, and, thus, we derive, using duality theory, a convex surrogate loss function, which we call the SPO+ loss. Most importantly, we prove that the SPO+ loss is statistically consistent with respect to the SPO loss under mild conditions. Our SPO+ loss function can tractably handle any polyhedral, convex, or even mixed-integer optimization problem with a linear objective. Numerical experiments on shortest-path and portfolio-optimization problems show that the SPO framework can lead to significant improvement under the predict-then-optimize paradigm, in particular, when the prediction model being trained is misspecified. We find that linear models trained using SPO+ loss tend to dominate random-forest algorithms, even when the ground truth is highly nonlinear.

This paper was accepted by Yinyu Ye, optimization.

Supplemental Material: Data and the online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2020.3922
Distributional Transforms, Probability Distortions, and Their Applications
Authors: Liu Peng , Schied Alexander , Wang Ruodu
Published: March 2021

In this paper we provide a general mathematical framework for distributional transforms, which allows for many examples that are used extensively in the literature of finance, economics, and optimization. We put a special focus on the class of probability distortions, which is a fundamental tool in decision theory. As our main results, we characterize distributional transforms satisfying various properties, and this includes an equivalent set of conditions which forces a distributional transform to be a probability distortion. As the first application, we construct new risk measures using distributional transforms. Sufficient and necessary conditions are given to ensure the convexity or coherence of the generated risk measures. In the second application, we introduce a new method for sensitivity analysis of risk measures based on composition groups of probability distortions. Finally, we construct probability distortions describing a change of measures with an example in option pricing.
Minimal and Locally Edge Minimal Fluid Models for Resource-Sharing Networks
Authors: Kruk Łukasz
Published: March 2021

We investigate minimal and locally edge minimal fluid models for real-time resource-sharing networks, which are natural counterparts of pathwise minimal and locally edge minimal performance processes for the corresponding real-time stochastic systems. The models under study arise as optimizers of appropriate idleness-based criteria within a suitable family of fluid models for a given resource-sharing network. The class of minimal fluid models is fairly general, corresponding to efficient service protocols in which transmission on each route takes place in the earliest deadline first (EDF) order. For such a model, the distribution of the current lead times of the fluid mass on each route coincides with the fluid arrival measure for this route, truncated below on the current frontier level. Locally edge minimal fluid models may be regarded, in some sense, as fluid counterparts of EDF resource-sharing networks. Under mild assumptions, a locally edge minimal fluid model is uniquely determined by its data. We also show stability of such models in the strictly subcritical case. More generally, each such a subcritical model converges to the invariant manifold in finite time.
Fast Calibration of Car-Following Models to Trajectory Data Using the Adjoint Method
Authors: Keane Ronan , Gao H. Oliver
Published: March 2021

Before a car-following model can be applied in practice, it must first be validated against real data in a process known as calibration. This paper discusses the formulation of calibration as an optimization problem and compares different algorithms for its solution. The optimization consists of an arbitrary car following model, posed as either an ordinary or delay differential equation, being calibrated to an arbitrary source of trajectory data that may include lane changes. Typically, the calibration problem is solved using gradient free optimization. In this work, the gradient of the optimization problem is derived analytically using the adjoint method. The computational cost of the adjoint method does not scale with the number of model parameters, which makes it more efficient than evaluating the gradient numerically using finite differences. Numerical results are presented that show that quasi-Newton algorithms using the adjoint method are significantly faster than a genetic algorithm and also achieve slightly better accuracy of the calibrated model.
FILTERING CULTURAL INFLUENCES IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING IN THE INDONESIAN CONTEXT: THE CONTROVERSY AND SUGGESTED ACTIONS
Authors: Purnawan Ari
Published: March 2021

There has been a prolonging controversy on why teachers need to filter the cultural load in foreign language learning. Some educators guarantee that the best way of learning a new language is by presenting the target language situations in the classroom, which usually includes the values, culture, habits, or ways of behaving and thinking of the target language users; however, some others believe that, for the sake of nation’s future and pride, they have to filter and block any influences that come from the value loads. Throughout the long history of foreign language learning approaches and methods, this issue has been one of their hot flavors. In fact, cultural contents are unavoidable in foreign language learning. Therefore, the type of culture to be included in the materials and the goal of study are two important aspects to consider (Kramsch, 2013). The paper aims to present ways that teachers can do to deal with the above issue. Involving culture in a selective manner may become a moderate compromise, and cautious actions in selecting the values to be loaded in the process of teaching and learning needs to be formulated and carefully listed. Some suggested items based on some intensive observations and teacher interviews are presented in the paper. It is expected that the culture issue in English language teaching settings develops into a good awareness of the importance of culture in language learning on the one hand, and of the preservation of own national identity and  values on the other hand.
AN ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS’ WRITING SKILL THROUGH FACEBOOK AS A MEDIA
Authors: Qomar Aulia Hanifah
Published: March 2021

The aim of this study were 1) to analyze the students’ writing ability using facebook as a media, and 2) to know the classroom situations when Facebook as a media implemented in the writing class. This study is qualitative study which is carried out at Muhammadiyah University of Metro. In collecting the data, the researcher used test, observation and interview. The research findings showed that Facebook as a Media can improve the students’ writing skill. Those improvements were: 1) the students’ used effective word or diction choice and usage word from mastery, appropriate register; 2) the students were fluent expressions, ideas clearly stated/support, and well organized. Then, related to the classroom situation, the researcher found that: 1) teaching and learning process was more effective; 2) the students did the task given by the lecturer; 3) the students needed long time in using facebook; 4) time management was not control (internet connection).
LANGUAGE POLICIES IN THE FORMER COLONIZED COUNTRIES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY
Authors: Rizqiani Diyah Ayu
Published: March 2021

Colonialism shapes the history of a country. The language policy of a former colonized country could be seen as a mirror to see the long history of colonialism. The colonizers have strong influence in establishing the education system and language instruction used at school. In this case, language as the important element in education system could be seen as manifestation of colonialism. The language instruction in the classroom is usually the official language of the country. Some former colonized countries proudly used English as academic language. On the other hand, there are other former colonized countries which use their indigenous language as the language instruction in the classroom. By comparing these two different language policies would also give different effects to their cultural and national identity. The aims of this paper are explaining the language policies, analyzing the effect of colonialism on education system, and describing the relation between language policy and nationalism.
DRAW ME A PROVERB: ENHANCING WRITING SKILLS THROUGH WISDOM
Authors: Haryanti Dwi
Published: March 2021

Proverbs are believed to have an important role in language teaching as a part of obtaining cultural knowledge, metaphorical understanding, and communicative competence. They have been considered an important part of the fostering of pupils, as they prompt moral values and present common behavior. In 2013 curriculum enacted for senior high school students in Indonesia, the proverb is one of the main materials studied in English subject. This paper aims at presenting how transforming proverbs to pictures and paragraph provides alternative method to help the students understand the meaning as well as to enhance their writing skills. To do this aim, three general phases were applied, namely before the instruction phase, during the instruction phase, and after the instruction phase. The result shows that transforming proverbs to pictures and paragraphs helps the students to convey the culture and wisdom. Moreover, it provides students with a rich source of vocabulary. It also gives them an opportunity of making comparisons between their own proverbs and the English ones, thus broadening their knowledge of the world. Finally, it helps students to write in English in a more natural, native-like way using the fixed expression.
IMPROVING STUDENTS’ ABILITY IN READING COMPREHENSION THROUGH COOPERATIVE LEARNING OF TAI (TEAM ASSISTED INDIVIDUALIZATION)
Authors: Nuroh Ermawati Zulikhatin , Mandarani Vidya
Published: March 2021

One of the learning models based on student activities (Students Centered Learning) is by using cooperative learning of TAI (Team Assisted Individualization) on the learning process in the classroom. This research is intended to know the improving reading comprehension through cooperative learning model of TAI (Team Assisted Individualization). This research used quantitative research using experimental design type one group pretest-posttest design with the sample student of semester 1 Diploma III Midwifery Program of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo. The result of the research shows that there is a significant improvement toward the first semester students of Diploma III Midwifery Program by using cooperative learning model of TAI type (Team Assisted Individualization). This can be seen from some calculations such as pre-test average X = 44,32 and average post- Test Y = 66.56 from the average pre-test and post-test posttest is higher than the pre-test. (Compare) with 5% significant level of degree of freedom (df) = (n-1) = 28, whether t value> t table. There is improvement in reading comprehension through cooperative learning model type TAI (Team Assisted Individualization) toward the first semester students of Diploma III Midwifery Program of 0.07> 0.14. This research is expected to contribute to the learning model of reading comprehension to improve students' ability.
THE INFLUENCE OF USING PICTURE SERIES AND REALIA TOWARD WRITING ABILITY
Authors: Thresia Fenny
Published: March 2021

Writing is a process of communication which uses a conventional graphic system to the reader. In writing subject especially descriptive text the students’ find some problem, such as: they find difficulties in developing their idea, their vocabulary is still low, they get difficulties to make sentences and the teacher uses unsuitable media as a tool to teach writing. The media presented as a solution are picture series and realia media. The objective of this research is to know whether there is more effective of using Picture Series and Realia Media. In this research the researcher uses quantitative research with quasi experimental design. The population in this researcher was 711 students at the tenth grade of SMA Negeri 1 Rumbia. It was consists of 20 classes and average each class consist of 36. The researcher used cluster sampling as technique sampling, the sample of this research is X3 as an experimental class and X4 as control class. To analyze the data, the researcher used ttest formula. The researcher got the result of ttest is 4,59 and ttable is 2,65 (on criterion 1) and 2,00 (So, on criterion 2). It means that thit>ttable. The criterion of ttest is Ha accepted if thit>ttable. There is different result of students writing ability in descriptive text using picture series and realia media. Picture series is more effective than realia media toward students’ writing ability in descriptive text, the statement is proven by result of posttest and hypothesis test.
ASSESSMENT-BASED MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT: USING STUDENTS’ WORKS FOR DEVELOPING ENGLISH LEARNING MATERIAL
Authors: Kristiandi Kristiandi , Sulistyawati Hefy , Cahyaningrum Dewi
Published: March 2021

Despite the vital role of teachers in delivering English instructions, English learning material takes the most prominent role in the learning process. As English learning process is expected to be learning centered, the role of English learning material becomes more strategic and crucial in fostering students’ learning. With the adopted curriculum as the framework and the concept of authentic materials as the basis, the development of English learning material needs to incorporate students’ learning problems and expectations. As such, teachers as learning facilitators are supposed to be alert to students’ needs for learning as well as their expectations and use them to update the learning materials as learning takes place. Students’ worksheets, which are the reflection of their current inter-language, are very good resource for teachers in developing a series of updated English learning materials and relevant communicative activities which are student-friendly. Developed on the revised Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) approach and Krashen’s Input Hypothesis, this paper highlights the importance of accommodating students’ learning problems for developing English learning materials by using formative and summative assessments results within a period of an English instructional program
A NEED ANALYSIS OF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHERS IN BIMA TO EMPOWER THEIR TEACHING PERFORMANCE
Authors: Nurnaningsih Nurnaningsih
Published: March 2021

This research focuses on analysis English teachers needs to empower their teaching performance particularly in the context of Bima, West Nusa Tenggara. This research aimed to find out the particular needs of Junior High School teachers in Bima to develop their professionalism. The data of this study were collected through several techniques such as questionnaires, interviews, observations, and documents. The data of this study was analyzed qualitatively. Several aspects related to the teachers` performance and teachers` beliefs are discussed in this study. The finding of this study shows that teachers in Bima find a lot of barriers in their teaching performance related to the lack of teaching media, infrastructures, students` low motivation, teachers` limits, and so on. Some of English teachers in Bima believe that they need a routine in-service training program to unify their perspective on respect to optimize their role as English teachers. Considering the critical need of teacher training activity, some of English teachers in Bima agreed to run an autonomous MGMP program for once a month regular meeting. This study offers some suggestions for Junior High School English teachers particularly in the context of Bima as the location of the study. By the presented facts, hopefully English teachers in Bima get such information which benefits to empower their teaching performance.
STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS TOWARD LEARNING MATERIALS USED IN ONLINE LEARNING
Authors: Adijaya Nuryansyah , Pertiwi Ratih
Published: March 2021

Online learning is assumed as a new paradigm in learning-teaching process in which lecturer and students do not need to sit in the same room to make class activities. They just need a gadget with internet connection to create the activities. Along with the practical of online learning, many institutions or universities in Indonesia create online learning to support learning-teaching process. However, online learning still faces some problems in learning activity, one of the problems is the use of learning materials. This study is aimed to explore students’ perceptions toward the use of learning materials in online learning whether the learning materials already support their activity in online class. 100 students of online learning TOEFL 2 are targeted to be research data. They are given some questions to explore their perceptions related to their perceptions toward the use of learning material. Besides, some students are also interviewed to explore deeper information. Quantitative analysis is employed in the study. This study reveals that students cannot decide whether learning material used in online learning already support online class or not which shown by mean score that reaches 2,805. they think materials are practical. However, they sometimes face some difficulties of using the materials; to understand instruction, responses, etc.These factors make students cannot decide their perception toward the use of learning material in online learning. That is why to support online learning, we must periodically revise learning materials for online learning.
ENGLISH-INDONESIAN SLANG (ALAY): AN ETHNOGRAPHY STUDY
Authors: Mahendra Okta
Published: March 2021

English is absolutely crusial International language having function as one of global communication tools to connect one country to another countryOne can not be ignored that in Indonesia, English is not only International language but also expanding language influencing the citizens to mix Bahasa Indonesia and English as the slang. Nowadays teenagers use Bahasa Indonesia slang adopted by English words, phrase, and terms. This looks at the society, especially teenagers and the transition from adolescence to adulthood (12 to 23 years). This phenomenon is actually very unique which they use some English words or phrases as their Alay slang language to communicate. It is such a case that should be researched by researcher and many people caring about Bahasa Indonesia and the way English insert in that slang. The cause and the use of it is the main case of that is actually the focus of research.This study uses a qualitative approach design; ethnography research. A qualitative approach design using data derivedfrom documents. While the form of data collecting technique is content analysis of secondary text or visual material where the researcher analyzes the content of the documents grabbed, describe, interprete, determine the settings, last is report reflexively. The data is taken from documents; screenshot of conversations of subjects in Blackberry Messenger with several themes where the English-language Alay language is usually used ie the problem of romance and vacation.
THE PROPER LEARNING ENGLISH METHOD FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER IN INDONESIA CARE FOR CANCER KIDS FOUNDATION JOGJAKARTA (YKAKI JOGJA)
Authors: Murbaningtyas Rizka Dinta
Published: March 2021

Cancer is a chronic illness that could suffer every people included children. Because of cancer treatment for more than 2 years, some students should postpone their school. Through ‘sekolah-ku’ program, YKAKI Jogja freely gives facility for children getting cancer treatment to continue their study in the hospital and in the shelter home. Children living in YKAKI Jogja were often visited by foreign volunteers and got English literature book donation. They interested in learning English but they felt difficult to use English because English is not their first language. However, the children with cancer have limitation in Learning English caused by: 1) side effect of chemotherapy, 2) less self-confident, 3) less support from their family. The research aimed at finding out the proper learning method to teach English for children with cancer in YKAKI Jogja. The research methods used direct observation and interview in order to gain the research data. In the English class, the researcher used bilingual communication with students and created comfort situation in the ward. Some learning methods were applied during learning English such as playing games, watching English videos, and storytelling. The result of this research showed that the children was more motivated to study English when the researcher combined two of three learning methods in the English class than used one method in that class.
LITERATURE AND HUMAN VALUES: AN EXPERIENCE FROM AN EFL CLASSROOM AT PSU, PATTANI
Authors: Sulaiman Suraiya
Published: March 2021

Being a rich source of language and culture, literature has been an ideal tool for the study of a language. As literature offers a bountiful and extremely varied body of written material that deals with enduring human issues, it facilitates in enhancing students’ language proficiency as well as expanding their knowledge horizon. Accordingly, literature seems to provide answers for the question posed by the 4th UAD TEFL International Conference: how to teach English in order to boost students’ language proficiency while empowering them with knowledge, skills and attitude in endorsing sustainable development and promoting global awareness. In this article I will share my experience from my literature class at PSU, where I deal with the concerned question.  I use two main literary works, A Street Cat Named Bob (2012), a biography by James Bowen and The Kite Runner (2003), a novel by Khaled Hosseini, to teach my students about human values such as love, loyalty, courage and social justice. At the same time, I introduce them to the world’s current issues such as diaspora, immigration, war and the idea of multicultural society.
Syntax for language teachers: Revisiting the nature of language
Authors: Adityas Muhammad Tolkhah , Oktavianti Ikmi Nur , Prayogi Icuk
Published: March 2021

Teaching language is not only a matter of delivering language materials to the learners (e.g., using various methods or media), but it is also about what is thought and what is understood by the teachers that might contribute indirectly in designing and delivering the materials. Those aspects are the manifestations of teachers’ knowledge about language. Teachers who have sufficient understanding on language will be able to conduct better practice of language teaching since they understand what they are teaching. It is then intriguing to discuss the roles of syntax for language teachers: what can teachers benefit from it? This paper aims at revisiting the importance of syntax for language teachers by looking at the nature of language and the nature of syntax. This paper reviews the available relevant literature. The result of discussion emphasizes the potentiality of syntax to equip teachers with adequate knowledge on language, language structure and how to cope with changes in language. Moreover, reading syntax research can enrich teachers’ knowledge. This knowledge can be of beneficial for teachers, for instance in designing the language content of teaching materials. These are not surprising since language teachers are teaching language; therefore, they should also consider language characteristics of the language they are teaching.
Investigating the English language needs of Statistical Department Students of IST AKPRIND Yogyakarta
Authors: Ambawani Suprih , Putranti Bernadetta Eko
Published: March 2021

The objective of this study was to investigate the English language needs of Statistical Department of IST AKPRIND Yogyakarta. 50 fourth and sixth semester Statistical students, the head of the department, 2 subject specialists and 4 alumni took part in this study. Data collection tools were questionnaire and interviews guide. This study followed qualitative and quantitative method. The findings showed most students studied English for having basic communication skills needed in the workplace. The result also showed speaking and reading skills became the main focus on studying English. Those two skills had a significant effect on their academic performance in content subjects and future jobs. In addition, the most important English language sub skills were listening to lectures, performing academic presentations, reading journal articles, reading textbooks and writing summary. The problems in listening were speakers speak too fast, unfamiliar words and lack of activity using English. Problem with pronunciation was encountered in speaking. Understanding general information of the text and finding specific information were the main problems in reading. The main problems in writing were vocabulary and construct good sentences with correct grammar. The students liked discussion and presentation as teaching and evaluation method. It is hoped those findings would be the basis for designing a suitable course that meet students’ needs.
Teaching material development of essay writing subject
Authors: Setiani Rulik
Published: March 2021

This research belongs to research and development (R&D) type. The aim is to develop an essay writing teaching material for the third-semester students of the English Education Department. Essay writing is one of the compulsory subjects for the third-semester students of STKIP Muhammadiyah Kotabumi. Through an essay, students can express their ideas and thoughts. Meanwhile, good writing skills can help them to provide information more clearly to the readers. The method used in the research consists of ten steps, but the researcher limited it to seven. Those are preliminary study, data collecting, teaching material design, teaching material validation, teaching material revision, teaching material testing, and revising the teaching material product. The compiled teaching material consists of seven units. The materials refer to the course outline for the third semester of the English Education Department. The teaching material has been validated by two experts, as well as one expert for the design and one for the media. Three experts stated that the materials are in the very good category. From the trial conducted through an essay-writing test and questionnaire, it can be concluded that the teaching materials are effective to be used as the material for the subject Essay Writing. It is evident in the mean score of the 3A group, which is 74.4. Meanwhile, the questionnaire results show that three aspects of the teaching materials are in the very good category.