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This study aimed to investigate the research writing difficulties encountered by 66 secondary pre-service teachers at Laguna University, College of Education. The study focused on four sub-problems: identifying the difficulties encountered, exploring the underlying factors, discussing the implications, and identifying potential gaps. A mixed-method approach was employed, utilizing a survey questionnaire to determine difficulties, underlying factors, and implications, while content analysis was used to identify potential gaps. The study employed a total population technique. The findings revealed that the most common difficulties faced by secondary pre-service teachers in research writing were related to reviewing the literature, analyzing and interpreting data, and developing research proposals. Furthermore, limited knowledge of research methodologies, time constraints, and inadequate feedback and revision opportunities were identified as underlying factors contributing to these difficulties. These challenges had implications for their teaching practices, such as reduced confidence in integrating research into practice, limited opportunities to publish, present, and collaborate, and restricted professional advancement. The study also identified several gaps that need to be addressed by the College of Education, including the need to improve skills in reviewing literature, analyzing and interpreting data, and conducting proposal defenses. Additionally, addressing the limited knowledge of research methodologies, time constraints, and the need for more feedback and revision opportunities were identified as crucial. It is highly recommended that the College of Education addresses these gaps and challenges, empowering researchers to effectively integrate research into teaching, contribute to the field, and promote evidence-based practices in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Painful knee osteoarthritis (KOA) has been associated with joint inflammation. There is, however, little literature correlating signs of localized inflammation with contrast-enhanced (CE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of synovium. This study examined the relationship between clinical and functional markers of localized knee inflammation and CE MRI-based synovial scores.Methods: Patients with symptomatic KOA were enrolled into the randomized, double-blind, Vitamin D Evaluation in Osteoarthritis (VIDEO) trial. In this cross-sectional substudy, associations between validated MRI-based semiquantitative synovial scores of the knee and the following markers of inflammation were investigated: self-reported pain and stiffness, effusion, warmth, joint line tenderness, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, radiographic severity, and functional ability tests.Results: A total of 107 patients satisfied the inclusion criteria of complete data and were included in the analysis. Significant associations were found between the number of regions affected by synovitis and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain, effusion, and joint line tenderness. Each additional region affected by synovitis was associated with an increase in WOMAC pain (1.82 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.05, 3.58], P = 0.04), and the association with extent of medial synovitis was particularly strong (3.21 [95% CI 0.43, 5.99], P = 0.02). Extent of synovitis was positively associated with effusion (odds ratio 1.69 [95% CI 1.37, 2.08], P < 0.01) and negatively associated with joint line tenderness (relative risk 0.87 [95% CI 0.84, 0.90], P < 0.01).Conclusion: There is a strong positive association between synovitis and self-reported patient pain and clinically detectable effusion. Nonoperative treatments directed at management of inflammation and future trials targeting the synovial tissue for treating KOA should consider these 2 factors as potential inclusion criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]