bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrated disciplines and future competencies: A blueprint for ethically aligned curriculum for IT, CS, ITC & beyond
Authors: Libin Alexander V.
Published: May 2020

Autonomous and intelligent technical systems are specifically designed to reduce the necessity for human intervention in our daily lives. In so doing, these new computer-based systems are also raising concerns about their impact on individuals and society. Because of their innovative nature, the full benefit will be obtained only if the technology is aligned with society's defined values guided by ethical principles. Through the proposed ethically aligned curriculum (ETHIKA) for computer sciences (CS) and information technology (IT) specialties  we intend, therefore, to establish frameworks to guide and inform dialogue and debate around the non-technical implications, in particular related to ethical dilemmas. Hereby we understand "ethical" to go beyond universal moral constructs, such as trust, harm, good or bad, and include ethical designs for AI-based technologies, socially-oriented computer sciences, and ethical risks of digital society. As digital economy prospers, more CS/IT-professionals realize the power of education-driven intellectual capacity (InCED). It is hypothesized, that InCED has direct impact on learning competencies of students, warranting future successful management of professional and life ethical challenges. ETHIKA elucidate, through both methodological and experimental inquiries, the impact of global digitalization and related ethical risks on learning and professional competencies in both professional CS/IT-community and the University students.
International Collaboration on a Sustainable Forestry Management OER Online Program – A Case Study
Authors: Zeng Min Qian (Michelle) , Chen Hailan , Shrestha Anil , Crowley Chris , Ng Emma , Wang Guangyu
Published: May 2020

Over time, forest education has had to adapt to keep up with global changes and to accomodate the needs of students and society. While facing pressing global issues like climate change, deforestation, illegal logging and food security, the role of higher forest education has shifted away from traditional teaching approaches and practices to methods that emphasize sustainable development, community-based management and environmental conservation in forestry. In doing so, forest education has cultivated human expertise that understands the complexity of ever-changing environments, masters state of the art technologies to manage fores and natural resources, and is capable of creating, communicating and implementing related policies in global communities and societies. In this context, educational technology and online lerning enable flexible, accessible, effective, and high-quality forest education. A case study of a Sustainable Forest Management Online program led by the Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia (UBC) shows that appropriately integrating educational technologies into an interntionally developed and recognized high quality curriculum is an effective way to create accessible and affordable forest education in meeting the demand of evolving societal and environmental conditions.Keywords: forest education; educational technology; international collaboration, open educational resources
Factors affecting Cloud Computing adoption in Higher Learning Institutions in South Africa: A case of Matjhabeng TVET Colleges
Authors: Moloja Dina , Ruhode Ephias
Published: May 2020

Cloud Computing is one of the most important trends and newest area in the field of information technology in which resources (e.g. CPU and storage) can be leased and released by customers through the Internet in an on-demand basis. The adoption of Cloud Computing in Higher Learning Institution is a real opportunity. Although Cloud computing has gained popularity in the world especially in education and industry, but its impact in colleges is still unexplored. This exploratory qualitative research seeks to identify the factors affecting the adoption of Cloud Computing in South Africa, focusing on Matjhabeng TVET colleges. 35 IT stakeholders from two TVET colleges was interviewed. Thematic analysis was utilised to analase data. After data was analysed, the findings revealed that data security, lack of internet access and lack of infrastructure resources are key factors that affects Cloud computing adoption in Matjhabeng TVET colleges. This paper contributes to the literature on Cloud Computing adoption in Higher Learning Institutions in South Africa.
Development of an Academic Risk Model to support Higher Education Quality Assurance
Authors: O'Leary Paul , McDonald T.J. , O'Byrne Derek , O'Riordan Chris
Published: May 2020

This paper presents a model of risk management in higher education, to support the quality assurance framework and the activities, more generally, of a Higher Education Institute. Its purpose is to define the Institute’s approach to academic risk and its management and to inform decision-making. Academic risk is defined and contextualized in terms of published literature. Decision-making and judgement is at the centre of all academic activities and accordingly inherent risk will always exist, through the exercise of judgement, the operation of academic policies and procedures and through compliance. A normative model of academic risk assessment is proposed, based on three levels: isolated academic risk, repeated academic risk and systemic academic risk. This is followed by a proposed model for action according to the level of risk. Finally the operation of the model in our higher education institute is presented.
Perceptions of organizational injustice in French business schools
Authors: Ramboarisata Lovasoa , Ben Fekih Aissi Linda
Published: May 2020

Whereas the institutional drivers of the accountability discourse and the apparatus of performance evaluation accompanying such a discourse in the neoliberal university are well documented, their implications at the individual level have received lesser interest. Our paper suggests that more attention be paid to the voices and the experiences of the “governed”. It accounts of the unfairness of the accountability regime in higher education, and more specifically in business schools, as it is perceived by scholars in France. Using insights from the institutional complexity (IC) and organizational justice (OJ) literatures, as well as an empirical analysis of the French business scholars’take on their changing work context and the metrics against which their performance is assessed, our study extends the understanding of the implications of organizations’ rewards, incentives, performance control and evaluation practices for OJ. Moreover, it deconstructs the narrative of the accountability regime by reminding that institutional complexity leaves very little room for many scholars to be star researchers, excellent program managers, innovative and inclusive pedagogues as well as impactful public servants at the same time without hindering other academic missions they value (disinterested collegiality, care, social inclusion), their quality of life, family, and or health.
Public Health Observatories: a learning community model to foster knowledge transfer for sustainable cities
Authors: Vito Domenico , Ottaviano Manuel , Cabrera Maria Fernanda , Teriús Padrón José Gabriel , Casella Vittorio , Bellazzi Riccardo
Published: May 2020

A Public Health Observatory (PHO) is a platform to provide “health intelligence” as a service for a specific population. The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies the primary purposes of PHOs as “monitoring health situations and trends, including assessing progress toward agreed-upon health-related targets; producing and sharing evidence; and, supporting the use of such evidence for policy and decision making” For the purposes of the PULSE project,  create an observatory to function as a unique point of access to the PULSE technology for people both inside and outside the project consortium.Specifically, we create a platform for e-learning and knowledge sharing that it can be easily navigated by lay persons that are interested in learning about or participating in the PULSE project. We  targeted specifically policymakers, clinicians, as well as leaders and citizens in other cities. As a concept, it reflects the principles participation, sustainability, and collaboration across sectors and levels of government The Observatory leverages on the Health in All Policies (HiAP) framework. HiAP is a cross-sectoral approach to public policy that systematically takes into account the health implications of decisions, seeks synergies, and avoids harmful health impacts in order to improve population health and health equity.
Critical Thinking on Technology Use: Higher Education Course Design to Promote Personal, Professional and Societal Change
Authors: Walker Susan K , Brown Rebecca Leaf
Published: May 2020

Higher education is a venue for developing critical thinking skills, dispositions and actions (Davies, 2015). With the exponential growth of information and communications technologies (ICT) in the last thirty years, dynamic changes and societal impacts,  and evolving research findings, intentional use for personal and professional well-being depends on emerging adults’ critical thinking abilities. This paper describes the design of an undergraduate course and elements of critical thinking deployed through content, learning activities and assessments. Thematic analysis of student qualitative responses at the end of the course indicate specific areas of growth that represent gains in cognitive skills, dispositions and action orientations. These validate the selected methods of instruction and underscore the course design, content and pedagogical framework as applicable to a wide range of content areas and field domains in higher education.
Self-Contained Jupyter Notebook Labs Promote Scalable Signal Processing Education
Authors: Carrano Dominic , Chugunov Ilya , Lee Jonathan , Ayazifar Babak
Published: May 2020

Our upper-division course in Signals and Systems at UC Berkeley comprises primarily sophomore and junior undergraduates, and assumes only a basic background in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. We’ve introduced Jupyter Notebook Python labs to complement the theoretical material covered in more traditional lectures and homeworks. Courses at other institutions have created labs with a similar goal in mind. However, many have a hardware component or involve in-person lab sections that require teaching staff to monitor progress. This presents a significant barrier for deployment in larger courses. Virtual labs—in particular, pure software assignments using the Jupyter Notebook framework—recently emerged as a solution to this problem. Some courses use programming-only labs that lack the modularity and rich user interface of Jupyter Notebook’s cell-based design. Other labs based on the Jupyter Notebook have not yet tapped the full potential of its versatile features. Our labs (1) demonstrate real-life applications; (2) cultivate computational literacy; and (3) are structured to be self-contained. These design principles reduce overhead for teaching staff and give students relevant experience for research and industry.
The Spinning of the Wheels: Women’s Travel Stories in Latin Funerary Inscriptions
Authors: Foubert Lien
Published: May 2020

This contribution examines Latin funerary inscriptions in which the movements of middle-class women within and beyond the Italian peninsula constitute the focus point of the text. It aims to shed light on how these texts relate to other social discourses, such as those centred on class and gender. Travel is by default a disruptive activity as it took women out of the household and into the public world. When a commemorator made the deliberate choice to include a reference to a woman’s journey, he or she must have been well aware of the fact that such an inclusion deviated from the canonical description of a woman as an ideal matrona. In this article, I will argue that this awareness and the desire to conform to the dominant ideological discourses of their time led to the embedment of these small travel accounts in a broader discourse of ideal female conduct.
Lucia Cecchet, Poverty in Athenian Public Discourse. From the Eve of the Peloponnesian War to the Rise of Macedonia (=Historia Einzelschriften 239), Stuttgart, Franz Steiner Verlag, 2015, pp. 283 [ISBN: 978-3-515-11160-7].
Authors: Fernández Prieto Aida
Published: May 2020

Reseña del libro de Lucia Cecchet, Poverty in Athenian Public Discourse. From the Eve of the Peloponnesian War to the Rise of Macedonia (=Historia Einzelschriften 239), Stuttgart, Franz Steiner Verlag, 2015, pp. 283 [ISBN: 978-3-515-11160-7].
Adolfo J. Domínguez Monedero (ed.), Politics, Territory and Identity in Ancient Epirus (=Diabaseis 8), Venecia, Edizioni ETS, 2018, 338 pp. [ISBN: 978-884675415-8].
Authors: Reboreda Morillo Susana
Published: May 2020

Reseña del libro de Adolfo J. Domínguez Monedero (ed.), Principio del formulario Politics, Territory and Identity in Ancient Epirus (=Diabaseis 8), Venecia, Edizioni ETS, 2018, 338 pp. [ISBN: 978-884675415-8].
Diego M. Escámez de Vera, Propaganda y justificación religiosa en época Flavia: Júpiter Óptimo Máximo y el Capitolio en Roma, Madrid, Ediciones Complutense, 2018, 554 pp. [ISBN: 978-84-669-3586-9].
Authors: Paredes Martín Enrique
Published: May 2020

Reseña del libro de Diego M. Escámez de Vera, Propaganda y justificación religiosa en época Flavia: Júpiter Óptimo Máximo y el Capitolio en Roma, Madrid, Ediciones Complutense, 2018, 554 pp. [ISBN: 978-84-669-3586-9].
Emma Dench, Empire and Political Cultures in the Roman World, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2018, 207 pp. [ISBN: 978-0-521-00901-0].
Authors: Vivas García Gustavo A.
Published: May 2020

Reseña del libro de Emma Dench, Empire and Political Cultures in the Roman World, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2018, 207 pp. [ISBN: 978-0-521-00901-0].
Nitrogen Fertilization and Liming Improves Growth, Production, Gas Exchange and Post-Harvest Quality of Yellow Flower Jambu
Authors: Costa Vivian Christine Nascimento , Silva Júnior Mário Lopes da , Sampaio Italo Marlone Gomes , Moraes Bittencourt Ricardo Falesi Palha de , Figueiredo Stefany Priscila Reis , Martins dos Santos Gabriel Anderson , Souza Leonel Rodrigues , Oliveira Eder Silva de
Published: May 2020

Jambu is a vegetable, widely consumed in the Brazilian North Region, both in typical foods and medicinal herb. Despite its versatility, there are uncountable challenges in relation to its cultivation, especially with regard to the availability of information on nutritional management, such as the lack of data on the effect of liming associated with the supply of nitrogen (N) on the production performance of the crop. Thus, the effect of nitrogen fertilization and liming on growth, production, physiological responses and post-harvest quality of the yellow-flowered variety jambu was evaluated. The experimental design was randomized in factorial blocks (6 x 2), with five repetitions. The treatments consisted in the combination of six doses of N (0; 60; 90; 120; 150 and 180 kg ha-1) with and without liming application (0 and 70% V). The variables of growth, production, gas exchange and post-harvest quality of jambu were evaluated. Standardly, there was interaction between N-dose and liming factors for most of the analyzed variables, except for titratable acidity and total soluble solids and titratable acidity ratio. In general, the increasing of N doses combined with liming positively affected growth, production, physiological responses and post-harvest quality, and it was observed that in the 170 kg ha-1 dose of N higher response was obtained in the biomass accumulation of the aerial part and in the 180 kg ha-1 dose of N maximum production of inflorescences. Therefore, the use of correctives associated with nitrogen fertilization is recommended to obtain more significant production and quality of jambu.
POTENCIAIS ALTERNATIVAS PARA REUTILIZAÇÃO DOS RESÍDUOS DA BANANICULTURA: UMA REVISÃO SISTEMÁTICA
Authors: Pereira Nathan Roberto Lohn , Magnago Rachel Faverzani
Published: May 2020

A banana é a segunda fruta mais consumida no mundo. Seu cultivoproduz grandes quantidades de resíduos lignocelulósicos, descartadosmajoritariamente de maneira inadequada. Muitas vezes esses resíduos sãopotenciais meios de proliferação de vetores, além de contribuir, mediantedecomposição, para a geração de gases que ocasionam o efeito estufa.Assim, buscou-se identificar, por meio de uma pesquisa sistemática em basesde dados (Periódicos Capes, Science Direct e Springer Link), alternativas paraa reutilização e consequente valorização desses resíduos. Propôs-se realizaruma análise temporal quantitativa e qualitativa dos artigos selecionados,identificando o número de publicações por ano e os periódicos em queforam publicados. Identificou-se crescente número de artigos publicados naúltima década, na maioria em periódicos de alto impacto (índice SCImago).Dessa forma, constatou-se que a produção de compósitos, biocombustíveise compostos adsorventes são as principais alternativas para se atribuirmaior valor agregado aos resíduos da bananicultura e, consequentemente,promover seu reaproveitamento.
Unusual presentation of giant schwannoma in the sciatic nerve
Authors: Brasileiro de Faria Cavalcante Julia , Nogarotto Cembraneli Pedro , Brasileiro de Faria Cavalcante Renata , Fernandes Valente Junior Volmer , Edison da Silva Cavalcante JosA
Published: May 2020

Introduction: Schwannomas are benign, encapsulated, slow-growing, generally solitary tumors originating from Schwann cells in the peripheral nerve heath. Schwannoma of the sciatic nerve is a rare condition and, therefore, little documented in the literature.

Case Report: A 77-year-old female patient arrived at the clinic complaining of pain and the appearance of a mass in the middle third of her left thigh. She presented with a well-defined mass, horizontally movable, hyperalgesia to the touch at the site of the mass, and positive Tinel’s sign. Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple lesions suggestive of neurinomas, with intense nodular enhancement after gadolinium contrast injection, diffuse, in the right thigh and in the middle third of the left thigh. Surgical treatment was proposed by our team, but the patient preferred to continue the outpatient follow-up, because the injury did not interfere in her daily activities.

Conclusion: Although schwannoma in the sciatic nerve is rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with conditions that affect this nerve.
Technical Efficiency of Wheat Producers in North Shewa Zone of Amhara Region, Central Ethiopia
Authors: Getachew Tadesse , Ketema Mengistu , Goshu Degye , Abebaw Degnet
Published: May 2020

The aim of this study is to analyze technical efficiency of wheat producers and identifying the sources of inefficiency in North Shewa Zone of Amhara National Region State, Central Ethiopia. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select sample respondent households. In the first phase, three potential wheat grower districts namely, Bassona Worrana, Siyadebrna Wayu, and Moretna Jiru were selected purposively. In the second stage, six potential kebeles (lowest administrative level), two from each of the three districts were selected. In the third phase, proportionally with population size, 374 sample households were selected using simple random sampling techniques from each of the selected kebeles. Cobb-Douglas Stochastic Frontier Production (SFP) function and inefficiency function were used to estimate the technical inefficiency level of wheat producers using a one-step maximum likelihood estimation procedure. The average productivity of wheat was found to be 32.60 quintals per hectare. Land size, fertilizer, seed, labor, and oxen power were important factors of production positively and significantly affecting wheat output. Age and education level of a farmer, off-farm income, extension contact, and credit services were found negatively and significantly affecting the technical inefficiency of wheat producing farmers. The inefficiency components contributed about 70.62% of the total deviation from the best possible production output. The average technical efficiency (TE) level of wheat producers was 72%. Overall, the provision of fertilizers, credit, and extension services would make wheat producers more productive and technically efficient in the study area.
Veränderungsprozesse an Hochschulen. Erwartungen und Einstellungen des wissenschaftlichen Personals
Authors: Prantl Judith , Freund Susanne , Kals Elisabeth
Published: May 2020

Im Zuge eines organisationalen Veränderungsprozesses an zwei Hochschulen wird untersucht, inwiefern die veränderungsrelevanten Einstellungen des Personals mit der Organisationskultur und dem Veränderungsmanagement zusammenhängen und welche Erwartungen an die Verantwortungsträger bestehen. Es wurde dazu das wissenschaftliche Personal der Hochschulen in einer quantitativen (N = 183) und einer qualitativen (N = 17) Studie befragt. Die Einstellungsvariablen der Mitarbeitenden hängen sowohl mit Kulturvariablen als auch mit der Wahrnehmung des Veränderungsmanagements zusammen. Die qualitativen Ergebnisse zeigen ein differenziertes Erwartungsbild der Mitarbeitenden im Zuge von Veränderungen. Aus den Ergebnissen können Implikationen für die weitere Forschung zu Veränderungsprozessen an Hochschulen und die Praxis der Hochschulentwicklung abgeleitet werden.
Dimensionen und Effekte der Service Excellence im deutschen Bankenmarkt
Authors: Weimann Jürgen
Published: May 2020

Hardly any other sector has seen as many drastic changes as the banking industry. Above all, strong declines in earnings due to persistently low interest rates, high cost levels as well as continuously increasing competition intensity have called this business model into question. Thus, banks are facing the challenge of meeting higher customer expectations caused by digitalisation in order to improve their profitability and reshape their business model. The ‘service excellence’ approach could prove helpful in this regard. Service excellence is a management concept that aims to appeal to customers by providing excellent service quality and, consequently, to strengthen banks’ customer relations. On the basis of a quantitative survey with 228 cooperative banks and 62 savings banks (Sparkassen) in Germany, this thesis analyses the dimensions and economic effects of service excellence on the German banking market. In doing so, it evaluates a total of four dimensions with a significant impact on service excellence.
Effect of Educational Intervention Based on Health Belief Model on Prevention of Substance Abuse Among the Students of Khatam Al-Nabieen University in Afghanistan
Authors: Mohammadi Khanali , Tavafian Sedigheh Sadat
Published: May 2020

Background: Addiction in Afghanistan, as the largest opium producer in the world, is relatively high, and limited studies have indicated that the youth, especially students are the majority of the addicted cases in this country. Objectives: This quasi-experimental study aimed at designing and evaluating the effect of educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) on drug abuse prevention among the students of Khatam Al-Nabieen University in Afghanistan. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 120 students of Khatam Al-Nabieen University residing in Ghazni city, Afghanistan, were randomly divided into two groups of the intervention and control (60 students per group). The HBM-based educational intervention was performed for the intervention group. The data in both groups were collected and evaluated at four time points, including before intervention, and immediately, 3, and 6 months after the intervention using a valid researcher-made questionnaire. Results: Although there was no significant difference between the mean score of the HBM constructs (P > 0.05) before the intervention, the results of repeated measures ANOVA showed significant differences in the intervention group in HBM constructs and also intention toward substance abuse preventive behavior (P < 0.001). There were significant inter- and intra-group differences, as well as the group-time interaction in all HBM constructs mean scores (P < 0.001). Also, as the valuable finding, the preventive behavioral intention significantly (P < 0.001) improved following a 3- and 6-month follow-up in the intervention group (17.63 ± 1.34 and 17.66 ± 1.42, respectively) compared with the control group (10.95 ± 1.33 and 10.87 ± 1.22, respectively). Conclusions: The results showed that the HBM-based educational program by preventing substance abuse can help students adopt proper behaviors.
Efficiency of Photocatalytic Degradation of Humic Acid Using Magnetic Nanoparticles (Fe-doped TiO2@Fe3O4) in Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Moein Hossein , Nabi Bidhendi Gholamreza , Mehrdadi Naser , Kamani Hossein
Published: May 2020

Background: Among water pollutants, Natural Organic Matters (NOMs) are highly important for making problems in water treatment plants. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to investigate the efficiency of photocatalytic degradation of humic acid using magnetic nanoparticles (Fe-doped TiO2@Fe3O4) in aqueous solutions. Methods: In the present experiment, Fe-doped TiO2@Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by the sol-gel method, and SEM, XRD, and DRS analyzes were utilized to characterize the synthesized nanoparticles. The effects of various variables, including pH (3 - 11), initial concentration of humic acid (20 - 80 mg/L), and concentration of nanoparticles (250 - 2000 mg/L) at different reaction times (15 - 60 min) were investigated on the photocatalytic degradation of humic acid. Results: The maximum degradation efficiency of humic acid at pH 3, the initial humic acid concentration of 5 mg/L, nanoparticle dose of 400 mg/L, and reaction time of 60 min using a 15-W bare UV lamp. Conclusions: Due to the high efficiency of photocatalytic degradation, it is proposed to use for the removal of humic acid from water resources.
Toward Inclusive Outreach: What Special Collections Can Learn from Disability Studies
Authors: O’Sullivan Kevin M. , Alexander Gia
Published: May 2020

Recent statistics suggest that nearly 1 in 5 undergraduate students in the United States report having a disability. Educators and special collections practitioners are thus confronted with a difficult question: What can be done to ensure that these students receive the accessible educational experience they deserve—and that is legally mandated—within our institutions? This article seeks to begin a critical discourse relating to the design of inclusive outreach in special collections for persons with disabilities. We begin by briefly outlining the emergence of the Disability Rights Movement and its relationship to institutional libraries, highlighting in particular where we see opportunities for improving outreach to populations that have special access needs. Next, we offer strategies for building a program of user-centered, accessible outreach for special collections libraries, such as locating and partnering with key stakeholders, designing flexible instruction modules, and assessing outreach activities. Finally, we conclude with reflections on the value of accessibility to the mission of special collections. Ultimately, instituting a programmatic approach, such as that which we advocate here, aligns with the professional ethics of the field and improves the quality of the special collections experience for all of our many diverse patron groups.
Early Book Collections and Modern Audiences: Harnessing the Identity/ies of Book Collections as Collective Resources
Authors: Tether Leah , Campbell Laura Chuhan
Published: May 2020

This article summarizes and contextualizes the discussions of a workshop held at Durham University in November 2018. In this workshop, participants (including academics, students, independent scholars, special and rare books librarians, and archivists) discussed the notion of the collection (that is, the identity of collection as a whole, rather than just its constituent parts), and its potential to serve as a means of engaging both scholarly and public audiences with early book cultures. This study sets out a series of considerations and questions that might be used when tackling such special collections engagement projects, including ones involving more modern collections than the case studies examined here.
”Danmark er danskernes land”: Højrepopulistisk diskurs i Danmark
Authors: Marker Silas L.
Published: May 2020

This paper examines the phenomenon of right-wing populism in Denmark in the year of 2019 by applying qualitative discourse analysis to a sample of central public texts from the right-wing populist parties New Right and The Danish People’s Party. Both parties utilize populist discourse by constructing a popular bloc (“the people”) stabilized by its constitutive outside: The elite and the Muslim immigrants. However, the discourses of the two parties differ from each other insofar as New Right articulates the strongest antagonism between the people and the elite, while The Danish People’s Party downplays this antagonism, most likely because the party has a central power position in Danish politics.
Abstracts: The sound(s) of politics
Authors: Baulund Lærke Ebbesen
Published: May 2020

Abstracts: The sound(s) of politics
Human-to-human touch in institutional settings: Introduction to the special issue
Authors: Burdelski Matthew , Tainio Liisa , Routarinne Sara
Published: May 2020

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Managing participation and turn-taking in children’s digital activities: touch in blocking a peer’s hand
Authors: Jakonen Teppo , Niemi Kreeta
Published: May 2020

This article investigates touch in the social organization of digital classroom activities as small groups of primary school pupils animate a story by using a shared iPad. Such a socio-material setting foregrounds haptic resources for action and requires coordination of hand movements on and around the screen. The groups in our data treat the animation as a product that takes its shape through the individual members operating the device one at a time. Our analysis focuses on how the haptic practice of blocking a peer’s hand is deployed to manage competition for a turn at using the tablet and to resolve the problem of its simultaneous manual operation by two or more participants. The blocks we describe are non-intensive human-to-human touches with varying duration whereby one participant prevents another from accessing the screen by sweeping the latter’s hand aside or grabbing and holding it. We show through a multimodal analysis how blocks accomplish the social action of claiming a turn for the blocker by investigating how they emerge sequentially, how participants operating the tablet anticipate peer interruption with ready-to-block hand movements, and how blocks are complied with or resisted. In our conclusion, we consider to what extent the young children in our data treat blocks as morally problematic and socially controlling actions, and how digital technologies shape educational practices.
Achieving Competitive Hardness: The Preference for Hard Touch as Practical Accomplishment in Professional Handball
Authors: Meyer Christian , V. Wedelstaedt Ulrich
Published: May 2020

This paper examines institutional touch in the case of institutionalized professional high-class sports where touch constitutes an intrinsic, required, and desired component of the institutional task. Specifically, it focuses on handball where hard forms of touch are used in the context of a highly bodily competition about dominance on the field. In order to acquire the ‘bodily hardness’ necessary for this, athletes need to slowly maneuver themselves before the match into a state of body and mind that allows for the required hardness in the competition with opponents. Drawing on ethnographic research and video-recordings of handball matches as well as activities in the locker rooms and during the warm-up, we reconstruct the sequential progression and transformation of touching activities within this institutionalized setting. In the course of the preparation for the match, the role of touching changes its character from avoidance (preference for non-touch) to its active pursuit (preference for touch), ending in a normative standard of hard touch.
Students’ Perception towards Mathematics and Its Effects on Academic Performance
Authors: Hagan John Ekow , Amoaddai Solomon , Lawer Vincentia Terkwor , Atteh Evans
Published: May 2020

Aim: The research sought to find out the perception of students towards Mathematics and how it affects their academic attainment in a Ghanaian context.

Study Design: Descriptive survey design was used for the study.

Methodology: The main instrument used for the study was questionnaire. The sample size for the study comprised of students selected from the three SHSs in Kumasi metropolis using purposive sampling approach. The sample size for the students consisted of 297 students selected by stratified sampling of which 180 were males and 117 were females.

Results: The students have positive perception towards mathematics though they see it to be difficult in a sense that it is important as it is used in their daily lives. The relationship between perception and students Mathematics performance in the study was very weak and negatively related.

Conclusion: From the study it can be concluded that students’ perception towards mathematics has no influence or effect on their academic performance in Ghanaian senior high schools. It is recommended that students’ positive perception towards Mathematics must be sustained and improved by teachers and headmasters.
Food and Feeding Habits, Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Fresh Water Fish Mystus armatus
Authors: Khillare Chhaya , Khandare Rahul
Published: May 2020

The present study describes the food and feeding habits, Length- weight relationship and condition factor in Cat fish Mystus armatus. Food contents was measured by frequency of occurrence method. Length-weight relation was measured by correlation regression equation method LogW=aLb. The length weight relationship indicates that relationship between length-weight is allometric growth having high values of b withR2> 0.56 with CI of 95%. The values of condition factor varies from 0.70 to 0.88.  The present study is useful to study conservation and sustainable fisheries management. It was concluded that Mystus armatus is carnivorous feeder, length weight relationship is significant, and fish is in poor condition due to various conditions of water.
Economic Implication of the Fall Armyworm in Ekiti State, Nigeria
Authors: Abiodun Ajiboye , Oso Adeola Abiola , John Ojo Oluwatoyin
Published: May 2020

Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the economic implication years after an outbreak of armyworm among the smallholding farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Methodology: A combination of purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select 60 respondents in four communities of the State. Thematic information from the semi-structured questionnaire related to the socio-economic characteristics of respondents, their enterprise characteristics, farmers’ perception of significant constraints militating against maize production in the study area, as well as the efficacy of management strategies adopted by the respondents. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics and Tobit regression.

Results: The study revealed that maize farming was mostly on smallholdings owned by males within the active age of 35 years. These farmers practised mixed cropping system whereby maize is planted with other crops in a shifting cultivation pattern. Also, the respondents identified lack of inputs, lack of fund and credit facilities, climate change, disease and pest outbreak, inadequate storage and processing facilities, and imperfect information dissemination as significant constraints militating against self-sufficiency in maize production. The most debilitating of these constraints was the outbreak of the Fall armyworm, which ravaged maize farms. Information gathered revealed that higher percentages of the respondents combated this notorious pest with the use of synthetic chemicals alongside other management approaches. The result of the gross margin revealed that net return per hectare to maize production was N27, 510. The Tobit results revealed that only pests’ infestation in the previous year and age were significant with maize output loss.

Conclusion: The Fall armyworm outbreak resulted in an economic downturn for maize farmers in Ekiti State.
Maternal Serum Levels of Interferon-gamma, Tumor Necrotic Factor-alpha and Progesterone of Infertile Women on In vitro Fertilization before and after Treatment
Authors: Osakue N. , Onyenekwe C. C. , Ehiaghe F. A. , Ahaneku J. E. , Ikechebelu J. I. , Igberase G. O. , Alekwe L. O.
Published: May 2020

Background: In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an assisted reproductive technology (ART) that is widely used globally in the treatment of infertility. Infertility can occur due to male factors, female factors or both.

Aim: This is the first Nigerian study that sets out to observe the levels and relationship between circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α) and progesterone (PG) in Nigerian women undergoing in vitro fertilization pre and post treatment and their possible effect on pregnancy outcome.

Materials and Methods: This observational study randomly selected sixty-two (62) infertile females below 45 year of age who enrolled in the IVF treatment at Lily Hospitals, Warri and Shepherd Specialist Hospital, Warri, Southern Nigeria. Only data of the thirteen (13) infertile females who became pregnant after the IVF treatment where followed up and presented in this study. Five (5) ml of whole blood were collected into plain tubes on day 3 of the menstrual cycle of all the participants from the ante-cubital vein before and after IVF procedure using standard laboratory collection technique. Ovarian stimulation was done using the long gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist protocol. Oocyte retrieval transfer was done using ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration and embryo transfer was done using ultrasound-guided embryo transfer. IFN-γ, TNF-α and PG were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.

Results and Conclusion: Significant increase in the levels of TNF-α and PG at the second trimester and third trimester of pregnancy when compared with the first trimester of pregnancy (p = 0.000). While the level of IFN-γ was significantly increased in the second trimester of pregnancy when compared with the first trimester of pregnancy (p = 0.000). It is evident from the study that both pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ and TNF-α) act in synergy to maintain the level of progesterone which act as an anti-inflammatory agent to regulate the activities of the pro-inflammatory cytokines for successful oocytes implantation and maturation.
Relationship between Glycosylated Haemoglobin Levels and Perinatal Outcome among Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
Authors: Ezeaku Elizabeth Chioma , Alegbeleye Justina Omoikhefe , Bassey Goddy
Published: May 2020

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a global health challenge and is known to affect pregnancy adversely. Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level reflect long term glycaemic control and is a more accurate measure than Fasting Plasma Glucose and post prandial plasma glucose level.

Aims and Objectives: To determine the levels of HbA1c, perinatal outcomes and the relationship between maternal HbA1c level and perinatal outcomes in women with GDM at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

Materials and Methods: This was a longitudinal study of 80 pregnant women from 36 weeks of gestation with GDM attending the antenatal clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). Blood samples from all consenting pregnant women were collected and sent to the Chemical Pathology laboratory to determine the HbA1c level. The blood samples from the babies were also sent to determine the random plasma glucose (RPG) level. A structured proforma was used to obtain socio-demographic characteristics and other information. Data collected was analyzed with SPSS version 22.0.

Results: The mean age of the women was 32.58 ± 4.95 years. A total of 57 (71.3%) women with GDM had elevated HbA1c levels (≥ 6.5%). Fetal macrosomia occurred in 17.5%, while 8.8% had birth asphyxia. The perinatal mortality ratio was 1.3%. There was a statistically significant relationship between HbA1c levels and neonatal hypoglycemia and perinatal mortality (p <0.05).                                                                                                                                      Conclusion: Despite the higher proportions of adverse perinatal outcomes occurring among those with elevated HbA1c levels, only neonatal hypoglycemia and perinatal mortality were significantly associated with elevated HbA1c.
Behaviour of RC Moment Resisting Regular and Irregular Framed Structures Situated Near and Far to Fault Zone
Authors: Harshitha K. J. , Sunil R. , Gornale Avinash
Published: May 2020

Near fault earthquake record are rich in high frequencies that effects structures for far fault earthquake record lower frequencies is not effects highly in structure. The objective of the study is to be investigating the effect of near-fault and far fault earthquake motion on the response of RC moment resisting regular and irregular structure considering Near and Far situated fault zones. Linear time history analysis G+10 building has carried out for two structures. The effects of Near and Far faults zones were evaluated for G+10 Two structure the ordinary moment resisting frame system was considered for two building as a lateral load-resisting system. For two building time, history analysis was performed under two example earthquake motion Uattarkashi (Almora and Bhatwari) magnitude 6.8 Mw. The peak acceleration v/s time response spectra of the two horizontal components of the two records for Near source earthquake records @ a distance 21.7 km Bhatwari and Far source earthquake records @ a distance 153.5 km of Almora records are taken in virtual data centre of India earthquake records COSMOS Virtual Data Center - Strong Motion Center. For two building and earthquake record, the analysis was carried out for both conditions and compared with fixed base results for all analysis both Near-field and Far-field earthquake were considered. The mainly evaluated parameter were storey drift, storey displacement and storey force, period vibration results based on linear time history analysis considering two structures. The comparative study of four parameters considers the graphs and curves shows higher and lower values higher values show that the earthquake effect of building and damages is more.
Magnetotaxis in Prokaryotes
Authors: Abreu Fernanda , Morillo Viviana , Trubitsyn Denis , Bazylinski Dennis A
Published: May 2020

Magnetotaxis refers to the behaviour of some motile, aquatic bacteria that orient and swim along magnetic field lines. These microorganisms, called magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), contain intracellular structures known as magnetosomes, which are nano‐sized, magnetic, iron‐mineral crystals, each enveloped by a biological (phospholipid bilayer) membrane. Magnetosomes are usually arranged in chains within the cell, providing it with a permanent magnetic dipole moment that facilitates these bacteria in locating and maintaining an optimal, preferred position in chemically stratified aquatic habitats having vertical chemical (e.g. O
2
) gradients. For many MTB, this is at or below the oxic–anoxic interface in the water column or sediment. Although all MTB are motile by means of flagella and have a cell wall structure characteristic of Gram‐negative bacteria, their diversity is reflected in them possessing a large number of different morphotypes and phylotypes in diverse aquatic environments. Recently, magnetotaxis has been described in microorganisms (protozoa) belonging to the Domain
Eukarya
, revealing a complex scenario regarding the evolution of magnetic field orientation, in which symbioses between magnetosome‐producing bacteria and cells without magnetosomes should be considered.

Key Concepts

Some prokaryotes (bacteria), like eukaryotes, internally compartmentalise and contain organelles.

The prokaryotic flagellum in magnetotactic bacteria rotates clockwise and counter‐clockwise thereby propelling the cell forwards and backwards during swimming.

Magnetotaxis appears to be a mechanism to make bacterial chemotaxis more effective using the Earth's geomagnetic field. This behaviour can be observed under the microscope by controlling bacterial motility through an artificial magnetic field (magnet).

Magnetotactic bacteria contain intracellular, nano‐scale, membrane‐enveloped, magnetic iron‐mineral crystals called magnetosomes.

Magnetosomes impart a permanent magnetic dipole moment to cells of magnetotactic bacteria causing them to behave as miniature, motile, compass needles.

Magnetotaxis works in conjunction with aerotaxis, and possibly other forms of chemotaxis, to increase energy transduction in magnetotactic bacteria.

Genes for magnetosome formation are generally clustered in the genomes of magnetotactic bacteria.

Magnetotactic bacteria are important in the cycling of a number of important elements including carbon, iron, nitrogen and sulfur.
Lipid Signals from Plasma Membrane
Authors: Ferreri Carla
Published: May 2020

Plasma membrane is a more and more appreciated topic in life sciences research for the specific roles of this lipid asset for cell functions. In particular, fatty acids, which are the principal constituents of membrane phospholipids, are known for their crucial contributions to the membrane organisation, biophysical properties and molecular signalling. An interdisciplinary vision of lipid signaling from plasma membrane is necessary, combining interdisciplinary vision of lipid signalling from plasma membrane, combining the intrinsic significance of saturated and unsaturated lipid structures, the interplay between metabolism and diet creating healthy signalling and the perspectives of fatty acid‐based membrane lipidomics to obtain molecular information that can predict the signalling, in particular for inflammatory conditions. From this scenario, several issues emerge for future research, pointing to the full integration of the plasma membrane analysis in molecular biology studies and to calibrated and automated protocols for gathering big data on membrane lipidome.

Key Concepts

Fatty acid‐containing phospholipids provide structural, functional and signalling properties to cell membranes.

Each tissue has its own membrane fatty acid composition which regulates the structure and functions.

Plasma membrane needs unsaturated fatty acids as cis isomers, prepared both endogenously by desaturase enzymes and by taking the precursors of polyunsaturated fatty acids from diet.

The presence of trans fatty acids in plasma membrane can be marker of free radical stress causing an endogenous isomerisation of the naturally occurring cis lipids.

The position and geometry of double bonds are crucial for the organisation given by fatty acids to cell membranes and must be recognised by appropriate analytical methodologies.

The balance between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids regulates plasma membrane organisation and responses, thus influencing the entire cell fate.

Fatty acids in membranes are epigenetic molecular factors, showing how nutritional and metabolic factors control the release of important signalling molecules in inflammatory conditions and other metabolic processes.

The balance between omega‐6 and omega‐3 components in membranes creates the predisposition of cell membrane to signalling responses in the inflammatory process.