bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perspectives From a Multicultural Affairs Office Professional
Authors: Johnson Tristen Brenaé
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this chapter is to contextualize the challenges that the office of multicultural affairs staff at one state university experienced while moving to virtual learning formats. This study seeks to offer four specific recommendations and best practices for both multicultural affairs offices/centers and higher education institutions, in general, to ensure that students who utilize these virtual format spaces will continue to develop a sense of belonging within the institution. The author historicizes the formation of Black cultural centers and their development into multicultural affairs, tracks the public recognition of the essential importance of these centers and diversity and inclusion programming, and outlines the issues and problems the OMA staff faced in virtually providing a continued and ongoing sense of belonging for diverse students and staff. Higher education institutions can use these recommendations to inform the future of virtual multicultural affairs offices.
COVID-19 and Inequities in Education
Authors: Banerjee Panchali , Gooptu Sayoree
Published: May 2021

The education sector has been one of the major victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has widened the infamous digital divide, which has wreaked havoc across the world. Accounting for the pandemic-induced academic institution closures, Indian educational institutions have tried to accommodate a digital medium of education to replace the traditional classroom teaching model. In this chapter, the authors reflect on the behavioral change of the pedagogical delivery as a response to the new normal, which has also put forward a wide digital disparity that entails inequities in the delivery of education to both rural and urban beneficiaries. The authors analyze how COVID-19 adds fuel to the existing socio-economic disparities making inclusive education a severe challenge, thereby amplifying the existing loopholes of the Indian education system in terms of disparate educational infrastructure across rural and urban India. The authors also suggest some potential solutions to combat the COVID-19-induced inequities in education in India's context.
Anecdotes From Turkish Online Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Karataş Serçin , Karataş Erinç
Published: May 2021

Emergency remote teaching, on the one hand, constitutes the ground for equality of opportunity for students; but on the other hand, it can result in inequality becoming even more pronounced for disadvantaged groups. This chapter aims to present anecdotal evidence of inequalities from the perspectives of students, educators, parents, support personnel, and administrators during pandemic in Turkey. The study is based on the embedded single-case design and was applied with a total of 250 participants. According to the findings, lack of hardware, and/or issues of an infrastructural nature were some of the most cited forms of inequality. The stakeholders also noted problems having been experienced during live sessions, unclear measurement and evaluation grading systems, and educational materials applied to students with disabilities as forms of inequality. For the future of the next generation, there is a requirement for conscious state policies to be developed and implemented during the upcoming period as countries attempt to deal with the ongoing pandemic crisis.
Towards Digital Laboratories
Authors: Ferraz-Caetano José
Published: May 2021

This chapter discusses key elements when devising a transition from traditional laboratory classes towards a digital platform. First, an overview of the types of online and digital chemistry laboratory teaching methods is described. Then it is analyzed a specific case of an abrupt transition of curricula of a practical chemistry undergraduate class. The assessment will be argued with a series of tasks that aim to identify challenges using a real-life laboratory transition. This will be done by outlining the major influences of teacher's transition outtakes.
Educational Policy Actions in the Times of COVID-19 and Suggestions for Future Applications in Turkey
Authors: Orakci Şenol , Gelişli Yücel
Published: May 2021

Education has been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with school closures affecting 87.6% of the world's total enrolled students. Drop-out rates are likely to increase worldwide as a result of this massive disruption to education access. Within this context, coronavirus-related disruption has given educators time to rethink education. Technology has come to the fore and will continue to play a key role in educating future generations. In a world where knowledge is a mouse-click away, the role of the educator has changed too. The present study is aimed to draw from theoretical and pragmatic lessons learned with school closures in response to COVID-19 to address paradigms of education. Within this context, the present study was performed to reveal educational policy actions by the Ministry of National Education in the times of COVID-19 in Turkey and make suggestions for future applications.
Accelerating the Digitalization of the Supply Chain
Authors: Merimi Mohammed , Taghipour Atour
Published: May 2021

The chapter proposes ways to improve the digitalization of supply chains during global crises. After a survey conducted on a sample of 49 logistics professionals, the authors find that today it has become necessary to accelerate the deployment of an advanced digitalization of the supply chain as a whole. Due to the problems encountered during pandemic crises throughout history, especially the COVID-19 crisis, and in today's computerized world, it is needed to transform the supply chains towards 100% digital. In order to do that, first the authors need to study the fluctuations in supply and demand during crises in order to understand the general effect of pandemics on the supply chain. Thereafter, it is necessary to adopt and improve the appropriate IT systems, especially to digitalize the interaction between buyers and suppliers. This will change the purchasing contracts because the buyers have more transparency on the situation of their suppliers since access to information is easier in a digital environment where everything is connected.
Digitalization to Reduce Tasks Without Added Value or Human Contact in a Pandemic
Authors: Hassan Md. Masudul , Resmi Samira Islam
Published: May 2021

Digitalization is the use of technological innovations within the business context with a major influence on products, services, business processes, sales channels, and supply channels. The associated potential advantages include, among others, increased sales or productivity, innovations in price creation, and new sorts of client interaction. Global enterprises are facing supply chain issues, and consequently, potentially higher operational costs, lower inventory, and the prospects of lower demand will make them reluctant to disburse resources and time to connect in M&A and financing activities, predominantly if valuations of targets remain high. Digitalization of the supply chain (DSC) could be a way that companies can start to strategize and accomplish trade strength against supply chain disturbance. The main focus of this chapter is that digitalization enhances prosperity without human contact in a pandemic, will alter labor markets, and impacts business models.
Semantically Enhanced Web Service for Global Supply Chain Disruption Management
Authors: Pal Kamalendu
Published: May 2021

The recent coronavirus pandemic has now unleashed a global supply chain crisis across a huge number of organizations, stemming from a lack of understanding and flexibility of the multiple layers of their global supply chains and a lack of diversification in their sourcing strategies. One of the technical options to mitigate the pandemic is to automate business processes by which heterogeneous data integration is encouraged. The convergence of Semantic Web with service-oriented computing is manifested by Semantic Web services technology. It addresses the major challenge of automated, interoperable, and meaningful coordination of web service composition in industrial applications – such as apparel business. Automatic service composition may dramatically improve the development efficiency of web service applications. This chapter proposes an approach to automatically process semantic service composition (SSC) using description logics (DLs) to provide well-defined semantics. Also, this chapter explains the role of ontologies in the architecture of the Semantic Web.
Quality Assurance in Blended Learning at Institutions in Privileged and Underprivileged Communities
Authors: Laubscher Michael Casparus , Ravyse Natasha
Published: May 2021

Blended learning enhances education and offers effective teaching and learning. Its success is well-documented, as well as the criticism regarding quality assurance in blended learning. Quality assurance (QA) is an invaluable aspect of teaching and learning and has a rightful position in higher education. QA strives to ensure a standard of teaching and learning which is relevant, effective, and resourceful, and it occurs within an established framework. Research suggests that the implementation of an effective QA framework is a complex matter, with great emphasis on context. Such a framework contains various elements which are often denoted by benchmarking. This chapter highlights the implementation of sustainable and effective policies at an institutional level as one such element. Meaningful collaboration between institutions will lead to greater success in the implementation of an effective QA framework. Institutions in underprivileged communities find this implementation challenging, but there are some encouraging examples of success and progress.
ICTs Used Effectively to Re-Envision and Restructure E-Schooling for Underprivileged Communities
Authors: Kekana Puseletso , Goosen Leila
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this chapter was to investigate how effectively information and communication technologies (ICTs) were used at primary schools in the Ekurhuleni South district of Gauteng Province, South Africa for re-envisioning and restructuring e-schooling in underprivileged communities. Governments and schools made huge investments, integrating ICTs and providing computer-based education, to support teaching and learning. There have been numerous initiatives, which have been endorsed by national and international bodies worldwide. The main aim of all ICT-based initiatives was to enhance the quality of education and prepare learners for the emerging digital world. Numerous studies across the world have provided impressive outcomes for the use of ICTs in schools, and more evidence is also emerging regarding the sustainability of ICT transformation in schools. There has also been abundant literature, which emphasized the need for teachers to change their beliefs about and perceptions of ICTs in order to realize the full potential.
Integrating Technology to Support Learners With Barriers to Learning in the Rural Classroom
Authors: Neethling Marinda , Greyling Susan , Taylor Benita
Published: May 2021

To reduce extended academic delays and disruptions, in-service teachers (hereafter teachers) enrolled for an online BEd Honours Learner Support programme had to re-think the integration of technology when supporting a learner with a barrier to learning in their classrooms. The teachers, of whom a few are educators in rural schools, had to complete a practical paper-based portfolio as a formative assessment. The portfolio expected the teacher to identify a learner with a learning barrier and develop a support plan over six months. With the schools closed, the portfolio in its original form became a challenge since the teachers could not have face-to-face interaction and interventions with their learners.
Sinking or Swimming?
Authors: Pitikoe Selloane , Ilongo Fritz Ngale , Mavimbela Happiness
Published: May 2021

This chapter presents the findings of a recent study conducted on the adult learners of the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) that explored how Moodle enhanced self-directed learning among the adult learners and how these adult learners mastered the content using the Moodle platform. It was found that while some learners excelled in using the platform, others lacked the technological skills to manoeuvre the platform. Also, participants lamented that the lecturers did not post material Moodle. Notably, Moodle enabled independent learning for those learners who were employed. The following conclusions were made: 1) lecturers need to post more material on Moodle, 2) refresher videos to keep learners abreast with Moodle should be made, and 3) periodic institutional assessment on the uptake of Moodle should be done.
Nightlife in Smart Public Spaces
Authors: Abusaada Hisham , Elshater Abeer
Published: May 2021

Every smart city has digital technology, but not every city has a digital technology called ‘smart'. This chapter focuses on the impact of digital technologies on nightlife in public spaces. The literature describes the third place as a dramatic zone of situations that articulate current events, referring to the urban nightlife atmosphere as a type of transformation of daily life. The conclusion reveals the importance of understanding cognitive and environmental adaptations to describe daily social life at night. The main finding is that smart city elements differ in terms of technological and digital components. The right description of smart cities and nightlife design will help to plan and develop public spaces in cities.
More Than Milling
Authors: LaLone Nicolas James , Hughes Amanda Lee , Tapia Andrea H.
Published: May 2021

During crisis events, emergency responders must verify the particulars of an event before sending out warning messages. The gap between an event's occurrence and official notification is often used by those impacted by that event to verify what is happening before taking action. The addition of information communication technologies has had an impact on what we term the verification pause. This pause is the amount of time it takes to verify what has happened before messages are received and before reaction can begin. More than milling about post notification, this understudied period of time is rarely visible for researchers. The present case study contains an analysis of a verification pause between an earthquake event and the actions taken by students in a classroom in a large university in the United States. The students in the classroom felt the earthquake and immediately began to search for verification that what they felt was indeed an earthquake. The authors conclude with a discussion of the utility of case studies and call for more focused analysis of the similarities between cases.
Contributions and Responsibilities of Police Forces in Natural Disasters
Authors: Luong Hai Thanh
Published: May 2021

In Vietnam, the presence of the police as primary responders is articulated in the Constitution and included in national legislation on disaster management as well as public security law. This chapter used desk-based research for data collection, including legal documents of government and Ministry of Public Security, to review and assess current policies and practices. Some selected case studies, based on available resources in disaster management of Vietnam between 1997-2017, are also utilized to illustrate for implementing eight main tasks of police in mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Findings pointed out that by implementing professional skills and effective measures, police in Vietnam played as core leading to support and assist the government and local citizens in natural disaster events. Some distinguishing features of police in a communist country to implement the ‘four on-the-spot' motto of police in natural disasters call for further studies in the future.
Women's in Leadership Position “Issues and Challenges”
Authors: Mekonnen Getachew Alebachew
Published: May 2021

Women face multi-faceted challenges in participating in management position due to different factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that affect participation of women in leadership positions in Bahir dar city administration. To address this objective, the study adopted mixed research methods with descriptive survey design. A total of 190 women public civil servants were taken as a sample. Moreover, a key informant interview with women in leadership positions was conducted. In addition, FGD were also a very important data-gathering instrument for this study. The findings revealed that there are three major factors for women's low participation in leadership positions, i.e. institutional, socio-cultural and individual factors. Those factors have decisive contributions for low participation of women in leadership positions. With proper implementation of women's policies in the organization, equal treatment during assignment leadership positions, and creating awareness in society that woman are capable for leadership positions.
Women Entrepreneurship
Authors: Patil Prachita A. , Deshpande Yogesh M.
Published: May 2021

According to the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO), not more than 14% of business establishments are run by female entrepreneurs in India, especially in rural areas. Entrepreneurship is not an easy step for women. It was traditionally considered as a man's bastion, but now with the due course of time, women are coming in the limelight to fulfil their aspiration as it is a fruitful opportunity where educated or illiterates can do wonders to achieve their dreams. Entrepreneurship is the state of mind which every woman has in her but has not been capitalized in India in a way it should have been. With the drastic change in modernization, people are more comfortable to accept the leading role of women in society, with some exceptions.
Understanding Career Barriers of Women Executives
Authors: Kişi Nermin
Published: May 2021

Inequalities between women and men continue in global labor markets. Although the inclusion of women as labor force increases day by day, their representation in senior management levels remains insufficient. Women continue to face several barriers preventing them from attaining equal access, participation, and progress in the business environment. Within this chapter, the authors discuss two types of career barriers called “glass ceiling” and “glass cliff,” which women encounter frequently in their work life. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a general perspective on barriers of women's career advancement and to examine glass ceiling and glass cliff the in its background, its causes, and its consequences. The chapter also aims to analyze studies which criticize the concept of glass ceiling. The results of the chapter are expected to be a source for researchers in the areas of women's career barriers, women's leadership, and gender inequality.
Women's Roles in Family Businesses
Authors: Floris Michela , Cinzia Dessì , Angela Dettori
Published: May 2021

This chapter is based on a systematic literature review of 56 articles published in leading academic journals and aims to reflect on the role of women in family businesses, focusing on specifics, contradictions, and opportunities derived from this specific setting. In detail, this work intends to disentangle this ambiguous and fragmentary topic and shed light on new perspectives by identifying how and why women are involved in invisible or minor roles where they are sometimes unpaid or paid less than men, despite having shown uncontested ability in firm management. Further studies are suggested to analyze in depth specific insights of the topic, particularly those related to anthropological and psychological perspectives.
Gender Equity in Medical Leadership
Authors: Chandra Lizzie , Downey Candice L. , Svavarsdottir Hafdis S. , Skinner Helen , Young Alastair L.
Published: May 2021

Female representation in medicine is increasing, however women make up only a small percentage of senior roles in the NHS. Only 36% of consultants are female with wide variation between specialties ranging from 12% of surgeons to over half of paediatricians, gynaecologists, and directors of public health. Women comprise 77% of the NHS workforce and account for 44% of chief executives of all NHS Trusts and 47% of executive directors. This chapter analyses the role of women as leaders within the medical world and compares the representation of women in senior leadership roles within medicine and other parallel, male-dominated working environments. Alternative forms of leadership such as mentoring, coaching, and sponsorship are also considered.
The Emergence, Experiences, and Empowerment of Women Administrators, Coaches, and Athletes
Authors: Darvin Lindsey , Demara Elizabeth H.
Published: May 2021

The objective of this chapter is to provide a more thorough understanding of the current United States intercollegiate athletics model that includes competitive sport opportunities within its system of higher education, the history and emergence of women in sport within higher education, the experiences of women leaders within intercollegiate sport, and future women sport participant and leader empowerment initiatives within higher education. While women were provided opportunities to compete in sport competitively within higher education at a much later date than their men counterparts, the significant impact of athletic participation for women and girls at this level has been established within the previous research. Most notably, women and girls with past sport participation experience at the college level have been found to represent a high proportion of women in leadership roles across a variety of industry segments. These insights provide significant evidence of the importance of equitable access to sport participation within the higher education model.
The Road Less Travelled
Authors: Seema S. P.
Published: May 2021

One of the most crucial factors affecting development in the 21st century is the increased participation of women in the economy of a country and increased entrance to managerial positions. Even though such tremendous changes have taken place, the patriarchal social set up insists on women's responsibilities towards family and children. The domestic roles of women are not shared by men despite the fact that women have shared the economic and social responsibilities of men. This causes conflict among work and family roles, which ultimately affects the physical and psychological well-being of women managers. This chapter deals with the problems and challenges faced by women managers in higher education in India and how family support and suitable coping strategies help them maintain work-family balance.
Claws and All
Authors: Thomas Ursula C. , Carter Karen W.
Published: May 2021

Understanding why women are underrepresented in various levels of higher education leadership fields remains an important area of research. In the United States and in many industrialized nations around the world, higher education professions remain male dominated. Explanations for why women of color are not successful or are experiencing difficulty in higher education leadership professions are many and diverse. This chapter seeks to examine the discourse of Black female leaders in a predominantly White institution. The chapter will focus on types of management and communication styles that are disruptive to women of color in leadership as they lead without readily identified support in upper division administration.
African Women in Leadership
Authors: Lituchy Terri R. , Galperin Bella L. , Melyoki Lemayon , Senaji Thomas , Punnett Betty Jane
Published: May 2021

This chapter considers African women's participation in leadership and their views on effective leadership. The literature suggests that African women remain underrepresented in leadership roles, although participation rates are increasing. African women are well represented as entrepreneurs, in the less profitable informal sector, and are increasingly found in political spheres. The LEAD research shows men and women holding similar views regarding effective leadership. Preliminary results suggest that traditional views about leadership, which held women back, may be changing. This is a positive development, as society will benefit from the leadership skills of women. Efforts by African governments to mandate percentages of women in leadership positions may have an effect on government as well as business. Africa, however, is a large continent with parts of its population residing in rural areas where traditions continue. Consequently, more research is needed to understand developments regarding the involvement of women in leadership to inform policy and influence practice.
The Challenges and Responsibilities of White Women in Leadership
Authors: Tevis Tenisha
Published: May 2021

Drawing on a larger study that initiated a dialogue about race and inclusion, the author examined the challenges and responsibilities of White women in higher education leadership through the lens of critical race theory. Though there is a need for women, from a feminist perspective, to confront the trend that higher education leadership continues to be White and male, there is more so a need for White women to interrogate the normative and oppressive nature of Whiteness. Because Whiteness is said to be overlooked within the narrative of feminism, White women are accused of perpetuating racism. Yet, very little research explores what happens when White women, particularly in higher education leadership, interrogate Whiteness. Contributing to the bodies of research on feminism, racism, Whiteness, and leadership within the context of higher education, the author presents strategies that could address the polarizing effects of feminism; discusses implications that go beyond institutional type; and provides directions for future research.
Successful Women Leaders
Authors: Russell Freda R.
Published: May 2021

This chapter examines research from the lens of women who are in mid-level and senior-level positions in their organizations. Using Mezirow's framework for transformational learning, these inspiring women leaders shared perceptions of organizational practices, work-family interface, institutional culture, issues of equity and diversity, institutional challenges, and personal mastery; they also defined their actions that contributed to their successes as well as the successes of the organizations they identified with. Additionally, within this chapter, the author compares and contrasts the barriers that limit women's ability to aspire to top leadership positions and examine the roles of their primary and secondary supports (i.e., sponsors, family, mentors, work teams, and peer networks).
Interlocking Systems of Oppression
Authors: Wheaton Marissiko M. , Kezar Adrianna
Published: May 2021

Women in higher education face many challenges as they navigate senior-level administrative positions on college campuses. Much of the existing research on women's leadership in higher education does not highlight the ways in which women of varying overlapping identities navigate leadership uniquely. In this chapter, the authors discuss the need for the theories of intersectionality and positionality, which foreground the intersection of many identities and further contextualize them within systems of power. Through an analysis of existing empirical work, this chapter draws attention to tools and strategies that can be learned from women of multiple oppressed identities and positions of leadership.
Women at Leadership Positions in Bangladesh Civil Service
Authors: Ara Fardaus
Published: May 2021

This paper discusses the status of women in leadership position in the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) following content analysis. This study argues that although the number of women in the class I position in the civil service has increased, their position in terms of power and influence on decision-making is still insignificant. In particular, the number of women in the leadership position in the civil service does not reflect gender parity that the government of Bangladesh is committed to achieve.
Enablers for Advancement of Women into Leadership Position
Authors: Bhattacharya Shubhasheesh , Bhattacharya Sonali , Mohapatra Sweta
Published: May 2021

Women in a leadership position has been a matter of concern the world over especially in information technology (IT)/ information technology enabled services (ITES). However, for the advancement of women in leadership positions, individual characteristics are not enough. Besides individual factors, it is the detection of organizational factors that enable the advancement of women into leadership positions. The present article develops a multidimensional scale on the perceived enablers for the advancement of women in leadership position in the IT/ITES sector. The scale considers both individual factors (characteristics) and organizational factors, such as welfare schemes, career development support, and training. The article also reveals that individual factors, such as self-confidence, ambition, and perceived competency are also enablers of advancing women to leadership positions. Researchers could examine the considered dimensions of the proposed scale in other sectors and with respect to other constructs related to women's work-life balance.
Methylated Polytope of Hereditary Information
Authors: Zhizhin Gennadiy Vladimirovich
Published: May 2021

The geometric features of nucleic acids during methylation of their nitrogenous bases, which is typical for viral nucleic acids in infectious diseases, were studied. It was found that methylation of viral nucleic acids leads to the transition of their nitrogenous bases into the space of higher dimension and sharply increases (more than 2000 times) the intensity of information processes in the field of interaction of nucleic acids (in the polytopic of hereditary information). The activity of methylated viral nucleic acids can be countered by activation (i.e., a fairly high degree of methylation, nucleic acids of the organism).
Segmentation Approach for Athleisure and Performance Sport Retailers Based on Data Mining Techniques
Authors: Rogić Sunčica , Kašćelan Ljiljana
Published: May 2021

This paper seeks to compare certain customer segments from two sport footwear, apparel, and equipment retailers and to examine an objective market segmentation method, based on the recency, frequency, monetary (RFM) and the decision tree (DT) models. The case study is based on two data sets, aiming to compare the different customer segments, both from sport retail industry, and represents an application of data mining techniques in a business environment. The customer segmentation enables the customer selection for the future direct marketing campaigns based on the previous purchasing behavior. Analyzing the customers' purchasing history can help the company determine the value of each customer and therefore target or not target such customers in the future with promotional materials, based on both the customers' interests and their value. Thus, based on the results, personalized offers can be created for each of the defined customer groups, which may increase the efficiency of the overall campaign, reduce costs, and increase profitability.
Information Dissemination Mechanism Based on Cloud Computing Cross-Media Public Opinion Network Environment
Authors: Liu Ping
Published: May 2021

As an important expression of social public opinion, network public opinion develops rapidly with the popularization of the internet and then affects the real society. Therefore, the use of computer technology to study the network public opinion information transmission mechanism has strong practical significance. The purpose of this paper is to use cloud computing to realize the research of information dissemination mechanism in the context of cross-media public opinion network. Researched from three aspects of operator supervision, number of media, and user density, the hotspot propagation mechanism of Storm platform given in this paper can solve the efficiency problems of traditional algorithms while ensuring accuracy, improve efficiency, and lay the foundation for the research on the monitoring of Internet public opinion propagation.
Improvement of K-Means Algorithm for Accelerated Big Data Clustering
Authors: Wu Chunqiong , Yan Bingwen , Yu Rongrui , Huang Zhangshu , Yu Baoqin , Yu Yanliang , Chen Na , Zhou Xiukao
Published: May 2021

With the rapid development of the computer level, especially in recent years, “Internet +,” cloud platforms, etc. have been used in various industries, and various types of data have grown in large quantities. Behind these large amounts of data often contain very rich information, relying on traditional data retrieval and analysis methods, and data management models can no longer meet our needs for data acquisition and management. Therefore, data mining technology has become one of the solutions to how to quickly obtain useful information in today's society. Effectively processing large-scale data clustering is one of the important research directions in data mining. The k-means algorithm is the simplest and most basic method in processing large-scale data clustering. The k-means algorithm has the advantages of simple operation, fast speed, and good scalability in processing large data, but it also often exposes fatal defects in data processing. In view of some defects exposed by the traditional k-means algorithm, this paper mainly improves and analyzes from two aspects.
Impact of Bloggers' Privacy Exposure on Blog Trust
Authors: Jridi Kaouther , Chaabouni Amel , Bakini Fatma , Chater Mabehej
Published: May 2021

This research aims to put into perspective the impact of exposing a blogger's private life over confidence which concerns the blog and the moderating role of the implication towards the category of the product. The collection of data is conducted among 320 members of the blog "streetstyletunisia," a fashion and beauty blog. The structural equation method based on the AMOS approach has been used to analyze the data. The results show the positive effect of honesty, a dimension of exposing a blogger's privacy over confidence concerning the blog, but disproving the impact of the blogger's intentionality over trust. This research confirms the moderating effect of involvement with the category of fashion and beauty product on the relationship between the perceived exposure of the blogger's private life and trust in the blog. This research can be interesting to marketers, as they need to partner with honest bloggers who reveal their privacy in order to influence amateurs and inspire trust in them and therefore embrace new communication strategies.
ESL Learning via Facebook Among Science and Non-Science University Students
Authors: Kasuma Shaidatul Akma Adi
Published: May 2021

This study examines science and non-science students' perceptions of the effects of Facebook on their ESL learning. A questionnaire was used to gather data from 631 university students in Malaysia. The findings suggest the science students' more positive views of Facebook for ESL learning compared to their non-Science counterparts, although the differences in percentages between the two groups are small. The science students perceived higher confidence and motivation to read, speak, and write in English, in online and offline environment, after being exposed to Facebook. The science students also indicated a higher level of English language proficiency compared to the non-science students, which may explain their better perceived confidence and willingness to use Facebook in ESL environment. The incorporation of Facebook as a social media should therefore be seen as facilitating a variety of preferred learning styles and strategies in boosting students' learning interest, improving their language abilities, and providing them with the best academic experience.
Effect of Banana Leaf Extract, Pumpkin Seed Extract and Bee Honey Treatment on the Inhibition of Browning of Fresh Cut Guava
Authors: Shomodder A , Hossain M M , Das P C , Ranganathan T V , Mazumder Md. Anisur Rahman
Published: May 2021

Purpose: Enzymatic browning is one of the most common phenomena happenings in guava slices as well as in all fresh-cut produces. This research was aimed at studying the potentiality of bee honey (BH), banana leaf extract (BLE), and pumpkin seed extract (PSE) for inhibition of enzymatic browning of fresh-cut guava slices.Research Method: Guava slices were dipped in solution (slice: solution = 1:1) containing either BH or BLE or PSE for 5 min and the changes in physicochemical properties such as browning intensity, color, vitamin C, acidity and microbial attributes were evaluated during their storage at 4°C up to 6 days.Findings: All treatments had the potentiality to inhibit enzymatic browning reactions. Treatment with BH had the best browning inhibition capacity (75.68%) followed by BLE (59.93%) and PSE (36.67%). Moreover, all three treatments worked against increasing of microbial load, degradation of acidity, ascorbic acid and color. All treated samples had higher lightness (L*) values upon storage than control (without treatment). The reaction rate constants for degradation of vitamin C based on 1st order kinetic model were as 0.0153, 0.0117, 0.0047 and 0.0037 per day for control, PSE, BLE and BH treatments, respectively.Originality: Findings of this study indicate that the BH, BLE and PSE had potency against quality deterioration and browning of fresh cut guava slices during storage.
Dietary Fiber Drives IL-1β–Dependent Peritonitis Induced by Bacteroides fragilis via Activation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome
Authors: Jennings-Almeida Bruno , Castelpoggi Juliana P. , Ramos-Junior Erivan S. , Ferreira Eliane de Oliveira , Domingues Regina M. C. P. , Echevarria-Lima Juliana , Coutinho-Silva Robson , Moreira-Souza Aline C. A. , Mariño Eliana , Mackay Charles R. , Zamboni Dario S. , Bellio Maria , Scharfstein Julio , Lobo Leandro A. , Oliveira Ana Carolina
Published: May 2021

Intestinal barrier is essential for dietary products and microbiota compartmentalization and therefore gut homeostasis. When this barrier is broken, cecal content overflows into the peritoneal cavity, leading to local and systemic robust inflammatory response, characterizing peritonitis and sepsis. It has been shown that IL-1β contributes with inflammatory storm during peritonitis and sepsis and its inhibition has beneficial effects to the host. Therefore, we investigated the mechanisms underlying IL-1β secretion using a widely adopted murine model of experimental peritonitis. The combined injection of sterile cecal content (SCC) and the gut commensal bacteria Bacteroides fragilis leads to IL-1β–dependent peritonitis, which was mitigated in mice deficient in NLRP3 (nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3) inflammasome components. Typically acting as a damage signal, SCC, but not B. fragilis, activates canonical pathway of NLRP3 promoting IL-1β secretion in vitro and in vivo. Strikingly, absence of fiber in the SCC drastically reduces IL-1β production, whereas high-fiber SCC conversely increases this response in an NLRP3-dependent manner. In addition, NLRP3 was also required for IL-1β production induced by purified dietary fiber in primed macrophages. Extending to the in vivo context, IL-1β–dependent peritonitis was worsened in mice injected with B. fragilis and high-fiber SCC, whereas zero-fiber SCC ameliorates the pathology. Corroborating with the proinflammatory role of dietary fiber, IL-1R–deficient mice were protected from peritonitis induced by B. fragilis and particulate bran. Overall, our study highlights a function, previously unknown, for dietary fibers in fueling peritonitis through NLRP3 activation and IL-1β secretion outside the gut.
Identification of a Long Noncoding RNA TRAF3IP2-AS1 as Key Regulator of IL-17 Signaling through the SRSF10–IRF1–Act1 Axis in Autoimmune Diseases
Authors: He Ruirui , Wu Songfang , Gao Ru , Chen Jianwen , Peng Qianwen , Hu Huijun , Zhu Liwen , Du Yanyun , Sun Wanwei , Ma Xiaojian , Zhang Huazhi , Cui Zhihui , Wang Heping , Martin Bradley N. , Wang Yueying , Zhang Cun-jin , Wang Chenhui
Published: May 2021

IL-17A plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis and multiple sclerosis. Act1 is a critical adaptor in the IL-17A signaling pathway. In this study, we report that an anti-sense long noncoding RNA, TRAF3IP2-AS1, regulates Act1 expression and IL-17A signaling by recruiting SRSF10, which downregulates the expression of IRF1, a transcriptional factor of Act1. Interestingly, we found that a psoriasis-susceptible variant of TRAF3IP2-AS1 A4165G (rs13210247) is a gain-of-function mutant. Furthermore, we identified a mouse gene E130307A14-Rik that is homologous to TRAF3IP2-AS1 and has a similar ability to regulate Act1 expression and IL-17A signaling. Importantly, treatment with lentiviruses expressing E130307A14-Rik or SRSF10 yielded therapeutic effects in mouse models of psoriasis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. These findings suggest that TRAF3IP2-AS1 and/or SRSF10 may represent attractive therapeutic targets in the treatment of IL-17–related autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis and multiple sclerosis.
The 1860 magnitude 6.1 Charlevoix, Quebec, earthquake: macroseismic information and interpretation
Authors: Lamontagne M , Burke K B S , Olson L
Published: May 2021

The Moment Magnitude (M) 6.1 Charlevoix earthquake occurred on October 17, 1860, at around 6:15 am local time. The epicentre was located in the Charlevoix Seismic Zone (CSZ), probably in the surroundings of the towns of La Malbaie, Baie-St-Paul and
Rivière-Ouelle. The main shock was felt from New Brunswick to the east to Southern Ontario to the west and as far south as New Jersey, more than 800 km from the epicentre. Newspapers in Quebec City reported the damage caused by this earthquake in the regions of Charlevoix and Kamouraska,
Quebec. There, damage was reported to many houses, and the intensity was greatest in the communities of Rivière-Ouelle, (south shore of the St. Lawrence River) and La Malbaie (north shore). Some damage to masonry was also reported in Quebec City, about 110 km from the epicentre. The Moment
Magnitude is approximated to be 6.1 from a direct conversion from the assumed Local Magnitude (ML) 6.0. Based on the impact of other Charlevoix earthquakes, the region affected by the 1860 event is in general agreement with this magnitude. This Open File Report presents the macroseismic information
and its ratings on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Scale for a total of 91 locations in Canada (69) and the United States (22). For each locality, the felt information is rated on the MMI scale and tabulated in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The original text of many of the newspaper accounts
was copied and when possible, images of the newspaper clipping are added. The Open File also provides a GoogleEarth kmz file that allows the felt information reports to be viewed in a spatial tool.
The Physiologically Difficult Airway
Authors: Vakil Bhavya , Baliga Nishanth , Myatra Sheila Nainan
Published: May 2021

The physiologically difficult airway is defined as one in which severe physiologic derangements place patients at increased risk of cardiovascular collapse and death during tracheal intubation and transition to positive pressure ventilation. Patients with a physiologically difficult airway can be divided into those who are critically ill and those who are not. The critically ill patient with a physiologically difficult airway may present with hypoxaemia, hypotension, right ventricular failure, metabolic acidosis and neurologic injury. Noncritically ill patients with a physiologically difficult airway are patients who are obese, paediatric, pregnant or at risk of aspiration during tracheal intubation (after a meal, with gastroesophageal reflux disease, intestinal obstruction, etc). Recognition of this high-risk group of patients is essential to implement measures to avoid complications during tracheal intubation. Unlike the anatomically difficult airway, where placing the endotracheal tube safely within the trachea is the primary goal, in patients with a physiologically difficult airway, prevention of adverse events is equally important during airway management. Strategies to prevent complications associated with physiologically difficult airway include measures to improve the chance of first-pass success, effective peri-intubation oxygenation and measures to avoid hypotension and haemodynamic collapse.
Innovations in Drug-Device Combinations for Delivering Medication to the Airways
Authors: Manikkath Jyothsna
Published: May 2021

Airway drug delivery is an effective mode of delivery of drugs for local action in the respiratory tract or for producing faster systemic effect of drugs that have poor oral bioavailability. However, pulmonary drug delivery is incredibly challenging. This article discusses the various types of drug delivery devices, their advantages and limitations. Drugs for pulmonary delivery are typically aerosolised using devices such as pressurised metered-dose inhalers, dry powder inhalers (DPIs), nebulisers, soft-mist inhalers (SMIs) and their variants. The efficiency of drug therapy is influenced both by the drug formulation and the drug-device combination. Further, efficacy of the inhaler and its correct use by the patient are critical issues. Besides the drug component, the incorporation of propellants and other adjuvants in the formulation has been analysed from the perspectives of patient safety and environmental pollution. These devices have evolved with time bringing the advances in technology for use. Feedback mechanisms and particle engineering have been tried and tested.
Saviour May Not Always be a Saviour!
Authors: Kumar Sanjay , Mahajan Shalvi , Taneja Swati
Published: May 2021

The intubating bougie is commonly used to railroad an endotracheal tube in anticipated or unanticipated difficult intubation. However, literature regarding bougie-induced airway trauma and complications resulting from its use is scarce. We describe a case of a 47-year-old male who suffered head injury following a road traffic accident. With deterioration of his neurological status, tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation were planned. In view of a possible difficult airway, bougie-guided intubation was attempted. Although the airway was secured at the first attempt with a bougie-guided technique, the patient developed a pneumothorax. Later fibreoptic assessment of the tracheobronchial tree revealed a rent in the posterior wall of left main stem bronchus which was managed conservatively. This case underscores the importance of being cautious while using a bougie to secure the airway and also cautions to limit the number of airway interventions to prevent complications.
Airway Management in Huge Ranula
Authors: Dwivedi Priyanka , Mall Suhas , Ahmad Shahbaz , Sharma Santosh
Published: May 2021

Airway management in the presence of a large intraoral swelling is always challenging. We report a young boy with a huge ranula occupying the entire oral cavity and protruding from the mouth. Our planned and strategic approach in a resource-limited setting included prior consultation with the ENT surgeon for aspiration of swelling if needed before intubation. Good topical airway anaesthesia followed by gentle videolaryngoscopy resulted in successful airway management.