Riverside College

This study examined the relationship between the level of parental involvement and the reading habits and literacy skills of Grade 3 learners in District II of Kadingilan, Bukidnon, for the School Year 2024–2025. Recognizing the pivotal role of parents in the academic development of children, particularly in reading and literacy, the study aimed to determine the extent of parental involvement in terms of parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, and decision-making, and to analyze its impact on learners' reading behaviors and literacy proficiency. A descriptive-correlational research design was utilized, involving 120 parent-learner pairs selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using validated survey questionnaires, including adapted and researcher-made instruments. Statistical tools, including the mean, standard deviation, and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient, were employed for data analysis. The results revealed that parental involvement was generally rated as "Highly Involved" across all dimensions, with the highest engagement noted in supporting school activities and learning at home. Correspondingly, learners demonstrated "Very Good" levels of reading habits and literacy skills. A significant positive relationship was found between the overall level of parental involvement and the literacy outcomes of learners, particularly in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency. Among the dimensions, learning at home and parenting practices had the most substantial influence. The findings confirm that consistent and meaningful parental engagement has a significant and positive impact on children's reading habits and literacy competencies. The study emphasizes the importance of promoting collaborative efforts between schools and families to support literacy development, particularly in rural areas. Policy recommendations include the creation of programs that foster home-based reading activities and capacity-building initiatives for parents to support their children's learning journeys effectively.

Environmental health concerns over per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have prompted public health laboratories to pursue monitoring studies determining PFAS occurrences. Select laboratories have begun implementing non-targeted analysis (NTA) methods to address the disparity between the few (< 100) PFAS typically measured using targeted analyses and the thousands of known PFAS. While NTA can provide a more comprehensive understanding of PFAS occurrence, significant barriers prevent its widespread adoption in public health laboratories. Notable barriers include a lack of harmonized guidance, standardized methods, and workflows that enable robust NTA application. EPA's Office of Research and Development has been working to overcome these barriers as part of technical collaborations with state environmental and public health laboratories. As a product of these efforts, ORD has developed the ENTAiLS Toolkit, a publicly available compilation of best practices and an open-source data processing workflow for PFAS NTA studies. The ENTAiLS Toolkit offers NTA practitioners comprehensive guidance and integrated tools that can aid the identification and characterization of PFAS in drinking water resources.

This phenomenological study investigates the lived experiences of Filipino gay seafarers working onboard commercial vessels. Ten (10) self-identified, unmarried Filipino gay men, all professional seafarers were selected through purposive sampling and participated in in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using Hycner’s (1999) Data Explication Process as cited by Groenewald (2004) to capture the essence of their shared experiences. Four core themes emerged: (1) “A Distress Signal: Discrimination and the Burden of Stigma Onboard” – uncovering persistent prejudice, exclusion, and microaggressions onboard; (2) “Shipshape and Bristol Fashion: The Arduous Masculine World of Seafaring” – highlighting the pressure to conform to rigid standards of masculinity within a hypermasculine culture; (3) “Sailing Close to the Wind: Love and Vulnerability in the High Seas” – exploring the complex emotional landscape of romantic attachments and feelings amid taboos; and (4) “Stem the Tide: Professional Excellence Beyond Sexual Identity” – revealing how participants anchored their worth in professional competence, transcending biases tied to sexual orientation. Based on these findings, the study recommends the institutionalization of a Social Diversity Program across the maritime sector. This initiative would be endorsed to the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and integrated into the curriculum and training frameworks of Maritime Higher Educational Institutions (MHEIs) in the Philippines. Such a policy aims to foster a safer, more inclusive environment onboard and promote equality for LGBT seafarers aligning with global standards of diversity and human rights in the maritime industry.

The snow, tourist destinations, activities, food and drinks, and hospitality contributed to the satisfying and unforgettable experiences of the tourists visiting the beautiful countries of Georgia and Armenia. The study narrated the winter experiences of tourists in Georgia and Armenia. Narrative inquiry is the approach used in the qualitative research design. The researchers implemented an overarching interview question to collect qualitative data. The participants of this study were two Filipino tourists working in a private school in Doha, State of Qatar. Credibility, dependability, transferability, and confirmability were the rigors of the findings to establish the trustworthiness of the data. After a thorough data analysis using the spreadsheet as a dendrogram, seven themes emerged: Travel Motivation; Appreciating and Describing Various Tourist Destinations; Activities in the Destinations; Food and Drinks in Georgia; Hospitality; Challenges Experienced by the Tourists and Recommendations. Findings reveal that the tourists were motivated to experience the snow and relax while experiencing leisure. They appreciated and described the various tourist destinations where they spent their activities. Moreover, Georgia’s tourists who consumed food and drinks received recognition and appreciation. Tourists also learn about the hospitality of the kind people in Armenia. However, the tourists encountered minor challenges such as long layovers, accommodation transfers, and occasional communication differences. Nevertheless, they highly recommend visiting Georgia and Armenia as exceptional winter destinations.

The adoption of the “nine-star pharmacist” concept by the International Pharmaceutical Federation has transformed the pharmacy practice from a drug and quality control-focused profession to a multifaceted field. However, there is still inequitable pharmacist distribution among career sectors. Also, alarming is the exceeding interest in a specific pharmacy field. Hence, it is crucial to assess pharmacy students' attitudes and preferences toward various pharmaceutical sectors. This descriptive research determined the career preference of 4th- year Pharmacy students of a Private College for Academic year 2021- 2022. It also determined the factors that influence their choice. Data analysis was done using frequency, percentage, mean, Standard Deviation, and Kruskal-Wallis in SPSS. Results revealed that most graduating prefer community pharmacy as their career choice. It also highlighted that experience of the curriculum course, training, influence of family &amp; friends, and knowledge of the career opportunities in various pharmacy fields are factors that influence their career choice. Lastly, career preference alone is not a sufficient indicator to measure influence on choice of pharmacy graduates, and other variables for demographic profiling should be included. Moreover, a support program in the pharmacy curriculum for systematic delivery of information and skills pertinent to effective development of competent professional pharmacists is encouraged.

PURPOSE:The purpose of this study was to validate time frames for postoperative care following stoma surgery and to determine participants' current practice with convex pouching systems during the postoperative period.DESIGN:A Cross-sectional survey.SUBJECTS AND SETTING:The sample comprised 332 ostomy care specialists practicing in the United States. Most (n = 220; 66%) had more than 10 years' experience caring for patients with ostomies, 82% (n = 272) were certified WOC or ostomy care nurses (CWOCN and COCN), and 7% (n = 23) were board-certified colorectal surgeons.METHODS:A 23-item online questionnaire was created for purposes of the study. Items in the questionnaire queried professional background and experience caring for patients with an ostomy. A single item was used to identify postoperative care periods following ostomy surgery. Additional items queried current practice patterns related to use of convex pouching systems and the timing of their use. Data were collected from January 18 to February 8, 2021.RESULTS:Most respondents (n = 270; 90%) agreed with the following postoperative periods after ostomy surgery: immediate postoperative period (days 0-8); postoperative period (days 9-30); and transition phase (days 31-180). Most respondents (n = 274; 95%) indicated they would use a convex pouching system when clinically appropriate during the first 30 days following ostomy surgery and 79% (n = 228) indicated using a convex pouching system regardless of when the surgery was performed. Less than 1% (n = 2) indicated never using convexity within the first 30 days following stoma surgery, and only 3% (n = 8) indicated avoidance of convexity pouching systems in the immediate postoperative period.CONCLUSIONS:Findings indicate that use of convexity during the postoperative period is prevalent to provide a secure seal and predictable wear time.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate skin condition and quality of life following the use of a double-layer adhesive pouching system. This article reports results from North American participants. The study was an open-label, noncomparative, multicenter study. Seven hundred forty-three persons with ostomies who reside in North America participated in the study. A stoma-quality of life (QOL) questionnaire consisting of 20 questions was used to measure health-related quality of life. The Ostomy Skin Tool was used to assess peristomal skin condition. Peristomal skin and health-related quality of life were assessed by WOC nurses at baseline and again after 6 to 8 weeks following the use of a double-layer adhesive ostomy pouching system. The participants recorded self-reported leakage level, presence of peristomal skin disorder, use of appliance type (e.g., convex, 1- or 2-piece), and frequency of consultation with the WOC nurse. Participants experienced a significant decrease in frequency of pouch leakage (P < .0001) and accessory use, improvement of skin condition, and overall significant improvement in mean quality of life score (56.8 vs. 58.9, P < .0001). The greatest change on the Stoma-QOL scores was observed in the quartile of participants with the lowest QOL at baseline. Their QOL scores rose from a mean 43.8 at visit 1 to 50.1 at visit 2 (P < .0001). The combination of a regular contact with a WOC nurse and the use of a double-layer adhesive appliance led to a significant reduction in leakage and accessory use, improved skin condition, and significant improvement in health-related quality of life.

In this paper, new seismic retrofitting methods by external reinforcement is proposed. Main objectives of this technique is to increase the flexural strength of existing RC columns detailing weak column and strong beam joint type in RC connection and to ensure the seismic performance subjected to large deformation under cyclic lateral loads. The proposed methods herein is the combined the steel plates and continuous fiber sheets with grout mortar layer. Furthermore, additional external longitudinal bar through the beam-column joint which is encased in mortar layer. These members are connected with the existing RC columns together with bonded anchor.In order to investigate the increasing flexural strength, the lateral cyclic loading tests were conducted for the five specimens with two different joint type of exterior and interior columns which the different mechanical properties of beam were planned, and respectively, compared them with the original RC frame. Test results shows that this method was very effective in enhancing the flexural strength of column. But its strength for all specimens of interior columns were almost similar, because hysteresis characteristics were hardly affected by mechanical properties of beam.