bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
White-collar crimes, corruption and bribery in Islamic criminal law: Lacuna and conceivable Paths
Authors: ‘Arafa Mohamed A.
Published: June 2019

The Islamic legal system differs from other legal traditions, such as civil law, based on codification or common law based on binding judicial precedents. In Islamic law, there is neither a history of codification of law, nor a reliance on binding legal precedents. The process of ijtihad (analogical deduction) in Islamic (Sharie‘a) law, however, is similar to case law model. In this regard, Muslim scholars interpretation of the Sharie‘a rules and divine (God)’s law were based on the Qur'anic provisions and the authentic Sunnah (Prophet Mohammad) traditions. The chief sources of Islamic criminal law are the Qur'an, Sunnah, ijma‘a (consensus), Qiyyas (individual reasoning) along with other supplementary sources.Where the principles of the Qur'an and Sunnah do not sufficiently resolve a legal issue, Muslim intellectuals use Fiqh (jurisprudence) which is the process of deducing and applying Sharie‘a values to reach a legal purpose and its methodologies and implementation are many, as numerous schools of jurisprudential (Sunni and Shie‘aa) thought (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi‘i, and Hanbali) transpires.4 This article will deal with the main principles of the Islamic criminal justice system regarding corruption and bribery from a descriptive viewpoint and will conclude that there is no real difference between the Islamic system and the positive justice mechanisms.
Historical urban tourism: Developmental challenges in Johannesburg 1920-1950
Authors: Rogerson Christian M. , Rogerson Jayne M.
Published: June 2019

Over the past decade there has been considerable growth and maturation of research concerning contemporary urban tourism. Tourism in major cities is not a new phenomenon rather it has existed from the earliest times of civilization following the birth of cities. The historical development of cities as tourist destinations has remained little investigated as urban tourism research is overwhelmingly ‘present-minded’. This paper addresses the neglect of historical studies in urban tourism. Using archival sources an investigation is undertaken of the early development of tourism in Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, which evolved from a gold mining camp established in 1886. The analysis focuses on the period from 1920 when the first tourism promotional activities were initiated to 1950 when national government enacted the Group Areas Act which began the radical reshaping of tourism in South Africa under the influence of apartheid legislation. In the formative years of urban tourism in Johannesburg between 1920 and 1950 two key overarching challenges are identified. These are the challenges of identifying and promoting the city’s tourism assets and of the building of a competitive infrastructure for tourism development, most notably in terms of the hotel accommodation sector.
Black middle-income housing and asset building in Mangaung, South Africa
Authors: Litheko Olebogeng , Marais Lochner , Hoekstra Joris , Cloete Jan , Lenka Molefi
Published: June 2019

Asset-building policies are used worldwide to reduce state welfare commitments. In the Global South, including South Africa, asset-based housing development is thought to help reduce poverty. This study investigated asset building and homeownership in a sample of South Africa’s emerging black middle class. Interviews with 244 black middle-class households in Mangaung revealed asset value creation and heavy dependence on mortgage finance. Levels of mortgage default were low, although households with recently secured mortgages struggled to pay them off. We found little evidence that property-owning is helping these households to move out of poverty. Their ability to afford mortgage loans appeared to be directly related to their own efforts and human capital. Very few had considered downsizing as an option, possibly because ownership of a house has social value, for passing on to the next generation. Asset building was still in its early stages and, because these households had been denied equal opportunities and barred from homeownership by the apartheid regime, very few intergenerational transfers had yet occurred.
Urban tourism and climate change: Risk perceptions of business tourism stakeholders in Johannesburg, South Africa
Authors: Pandy Wayde R.
Published: June 2019

The nexus of climate change and cities is acknowledged as of growing importance for inter-disciplinary research. In this article the focus is upon the perceptions of climate change and responses by tourism stakeholders in Johannesburg, South Africa’s leading city and major tourism destination. Using semi-structured qualitative interviews with 30 tourism stakeholders an analysis is undertaken of the risk perceptions of climate change. Overall the results suggest a major disconnect between the climate change threats as openly recognised by Johannesburg city authorities and of the risk perceptions as revealed by local tourism stakeholders. The predominant view articulated by tourism industry stakeholders is that climate change responses and associated sustainability initiatives are something of a ‘nice to have’ rather than a necessity given current the current state of awareness and of climate change risk perceptions by businesses.
Representation of the Articulation between Spheres of Life
Authors: Khanche Hanen , Kahla Karim Ben
Published: June 2019

Our paper aims to improve the understanding of the articulation between spheres of life among Tunisian managers, by mobilizing a mixed theoretical framework. In this context, we develop a model of representation of spheres of life simultaneously explaining the structural relationships between its different areas. This conceptual model is validated on data collected from the Word Values Survey. However, the model obtained leads to a certain hierarchy of the effects of the spheres of life.
Patrones temporales de participación en MOOC. Estudio de un MOOC de lenguas
Authors: Del Peral Pérez Juan José
Published: June 2019

Aunque los Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) se han convertido en una herramienta de aprendizaje continuo en la sociedad actual, las elevadas tasas de abandono son uno de sus principales problemas. El trazado de perfiles de usuario y la identificación de las características intrínsecas de cada perfil permite adaptar el diseño de los MOOC para adecuarlo a los patrones de uso de los estudiantes con el objetivo de incrementar las tasas de compleción de los cursos. Los perfiles de usuario que se han identificado hasta la fecha se han basado en el nivel de vinculación de los participantes del MOOC y la preferencia por un tipo u otro de actividades. Este estudio tiene como objetivo el trazado de perfiles de participantes en los MOOC en función del uso temporal del curso por parte de los mismos, tomando en cuenta tanto el número de sesiones como la repetición de franjas horarias por parte de los usuarios, con el objetivo de contrastar los rasgos fundamentales de cada tipo de estudiante. Para ello se ha utilizado la información contenida en los ficheros de log generados durante el desarrollo de la tercera edición del MOOC “Inglés Profesional / Professional English”, implantado en la plataforma de UNED Abierta. A partir de los resultados obtenidos se puede concluir que la pertenencia a cualquiera de los distintos perfiles que completan el MOOC no implica un mayor desempeño en el curso ni nota mayor.
El efecto de las TIC y redes sociales en estudiantes universitarios
Authors: Maldonado Berea Guadalupe Aurora , García González Janet , Sampedro Requena Begoña Esther
Published: June 2019

La forma en que nos comunicamos está en constante evolución. Las tecnologías de la información y de la comunicación (TIC) y las redes sociales intervienen directamente en la cultura de un país. En México, el número de usuarios ha pasado ya los 79 millones. Sin embargo, la desigualdad en el acceso a las TIC, impide el propósito de agilizar la relación sociedad-red social que permite un aprendizaje interactivo y dinámico en la educación, además de las gratificaciones personales. Con esta investigación se ha tratado de identificar el efecto de las TIC y las redes sociales en estudiantes universitarios, a través del acceso, el uso y las gratificaciones sociales y académicas. Se trata de un estudio mixto (cualitativo/cuantitativo), con enfoque cuantitativo prospectivo y de corte transversal. Se incluyeron casi 500 estudiantes de las Universidades Autónomas de Baja California y Benito Juárez de Oaxaca. Para el análisis de la información se obtuvieron estadísticas descriptivas y la prueba análisis de correspondencia múltiple, como método inferencial. Tras un análisis de los resultados, se reflexiona sobre las TIC y el uso de las redes sociales y los cambios que producen en la conducta universitaria y en afectaciones interpersonales, cuestión asociada significativamente con la universidad a la que acuden.
Ciberacoso escolar: experiencias y propuestas de jóvenes universitarios
Authors: Rivadulla López Juan Carlos , Rodríguez Correa Marisol
Published: June 2019

El rápido crecimiento de las TIC ha traído consigo múltiples beneficios, pero, sin duda alguna, también muchos perjuicios, siendo uno de ellos el ciberacoso, el cual está tomando cada día más fuerza en nuestra sociedad. El interés principal en este estudio fue conocer la percepción y experiencia de un grupo de jóvenes universitarios sobre el ciberacoso en su etapa estudiantil en el instituto de educación secundaria. Para la realización de esta investigación, hemos contado con la participación de 864 estudiantes de seis universidades del noreste de España. Se ha utilizado una metodología cuantitativa de carácter no experimental de tipo encuesta, concretamente se utilizó un muestreo no probabilístico, accidental o incidental, condicionado por la disponibilidad de los sujetos a participar en el estudio. La mayoría del alumnado consultado en nuestro estudio indicó no haber sufrido ciberacoso ni haberlo ejercido en su etapa estudiantil en el Instituto tanto en centros públicos como privados. La agresividad escrita (insultos/ofensas o amenazas) fue el tipo de acción violenta más habitual entre los agresores, al igual que la difusión de información personal o de rumores. La mayoría de jóvenes, que sufrieron acoso en el Instituto en nuestro estudio, reconocieron que no se sintieron motivados para acudir a clase en su momento, ni para desarrollar sus estudios de manera adecuada, aislándose socialmente.
Limitaciones de WhatsApp para la realización de actividades colaborativas en la universidad
Authors: Vilches Vilela María Josefa , Reche Urbano Eloísa
Published: June 2019

El aprendizaje colaborativo, como técnica pedagógica, es utilizado frecuentemente en Educación Superior, teniendo en cuenta que saber trabajar en equipo es una competencia necesaria para la mayoría de las profesiones, especialmente para aquellas que se desarrollan en el ámbito educativo, dado que su trabajo precisa de la coordinación con otras personas y su acción educadora se dirige a otros individuos en los que deben promover conductas prosociales. En la elaboración de las actividades grupales, que conllevan el intercambio de información, la adopción de responsabilidades, el diálogo y la toma de decisiones, es habitual que para conseguirlo, los estudiantes utilicen la tecnología, en concreto WhatsApp, como herramienta de comunicación. El objetivo del estudio residió en el análisis y la valoración de las limitaciones de esta aplicación para la regulación de actividades académicas grupales. Se adoptó un enfoque descriptivo correlacional, recabando información mediante un cuestionario ad hoc que se implementó en 1709 estudiantes de los Grados en Educación Infantil, en Educación Primaria, en Educación Primaria de itinerario bilingüe y en Educación Social de la Universidad de Córdoba. El estudio reveló que, pese a las aportaciones de esta herramienta, su uso no está exento de limitaciones que obstaculizan las relaciones entre los miembros del grupo y el propio proceso de comunicación, sobre todo por la incomodidad de los chats grupales para conversaciones largas o complejas y los conflictos que pueden generarse al emitir mensajes confusos.
MOOC y modelos de aprendizaje combinado. Una aproximación práctica
Authors: Torres-Coronas Teresa , Vidal-Blasco María-Arántzazu
Published: June 2019

Cada vez existe un mayor interés en analizar cómo los entornos virtuales influyen en el aprendizaje. En particular, los investigadores se centran en evaluar diseños educativos que combinan los MOOC con la enseñanza presencial. El presente artículo analiza una experiencia de aprendizaje mixto en una institución de educación superior española. Su objetivo es presentar un estudio de caso y discutir el enfoque estratégico para integrar un MOOC en estudios de grado presenciales. En el caso analizado, los estudiantes aprenden utilizando una combinación de clases presenciales con aprendizaje virtual. El objetivo es mejorar el rendimiento académico y reducir la tasa de abandono en estudiantes de primer curso. La estrategia de evaluación de esta experiencia se centra en la realización de cuestionarios y grupos focales para interpretar los resultados y la opinión de los diferentes grupos de interés. El análisis realizado sintetiza la opinión de las principales partes interesadas sujetas a estudio en la institución, esto es, la universidad, los estudiantes y el personal académico. Del estudio realizado se desprende que los modelos de aprendizaje combinado mejoran la calidad de la educación de los estudiantes, fortalecen su rendimiento académico y alientan al personal académico a innovar constantemente en su proceso didáctico.
Las redes sociales en educación: desde la innovación a la investigación educativa
Authors: Marín-Díaz Verónica , Cabero-Almenara Julio
Published: June 2019

Las redes sociales son uno de los instrumentos básicos utilizados en la sociedad del conocimiento, y sobre todo en los más jóvenes, de manera que algunas personas empiezan a calificar a las nuevas generaciones como la “generación muda”, pues sus conexiones las realizan fundamentalmente a través de texto escrito en redes sociales. Tal presencia en la sociedad ha repercutido también para un crecimiento exponencial en los entornos de formación, donde los centros las incorporan, no solo para tareas administrativas y de información a las familias, sino también los docentes como herramientas e instrumentos, para transmitir información y crear entornos de trabajo colaborativos. Tal utilización ha venido potenciada por la extensión de los dispositivos móviles entre los estudiantes y la presencia de las redes inalámbricas en los centros educativos. Ahora bien, frente a esta presencia, su incorporación a la enseñanza adolece de la problemática de contar con investigaciones que nos aporten modelos y “buenas prácticas” para su utilización. Al mismo tiempo, también encontramos hándicaps como la visión negativa que se puedan tener de ellos tanto por parte del alumno como del docente, así como la visión social que en un momento dado pueden llegar a tener fuera del ámbito académico, la nula o escasa seguridad que dan al usuario si no configura adecuadamente la privacidad, ciertos riesgos de adicción o uso problemático de las redes, o falta de control sobre lo escrito o subido. Y son algunos de los aspectos los que se analizan en el presente monográfico.
Livsformer og livskvalitet i Grønland: Et indblik i sammenhængen og den potentielle udvikling
Authors: Steenholdt Naja Carina
Published: June 2019

This article examines how life modes and quality of life are related in Greenland from a social science perspective. The article also relates to how this is linked to the country's development towards independence. Quality of life and the notion of the good life belong to the cultural and value-laden aspects of ways of life. In other words, it is a notion of how things should, must or may be, in order for us to feel that life is good. But the physical locality of where a person lives is also important. It is a classical notion that people have substantially different ways of life in a city versus a settlement, and that values ​​and attitudes to what quality of life can be, substantially varies between the two. Based on the results of a quality of life studies in South Greenland in 2018 and through an analysis and discussion of Thomas Højrups’ life mode analysis, the article seeks to answer the following questions: How are life modes and quality of life in Greenland interrelated? And how are they linked to the current development towards independence? The article argues that life modes and quality of life are to a large extent associated with relations to family, nature and work, but that the ability of the Greenlandic people to adapt also plays a role in the relationship between life forms and quality of life
Medier og selvstændighed i Grønland
Authors: Ravn-Højgaard Signe
Published: June 2019

This article discusses the potential impact of Greenlandic independence on Greenland’s media system and suggests initiatives necessary for maintaining strong Greenlandic media in the future. Using Manuel Puppis' (2009) theory of the characteristics of small media systems, the Greenlandic media system is described. It is shown that it is built with the following aim in mind: the media should support the Greenlandic society by being independent and diverse, strengthening the Greenlandic language, and providing quality journalism that can heighten the public debate. However, as a small media system it is vulnerable to global tendencies where legacy media lose users and advertisers to digital platforms like Facebook and streaming services. The article argues that the vulnerability of the Greenlandic media system could increase if independence leads to a tighter public economy, impeding the media's ability to support Greenlandic society and culture. An interventionist media regulation could, therefore, be a prerequisite for a strong Greenlandic media system that can act as a unifying and nation-building institution.
Quantifying the impact of protected areas on near-global waterbird population trends, a pre-analysis plan
Authors: Wauchope Hannah S , Jones Julia P G , Amano Tatsuya , Geldmann Jonas , Blanco Daniel , Fuller Richard A , Langendoen Tom , Mundkur Taej , Simmons Benno I , Nagy Szabolcs , Sutherland William J
Published: June 2019

There is increasing interest in the effectiveness of protected areas (PAs) for supporting populations of wildlife. While there are a number of association studies showing a relationship between protected areas and abundance or trends in wild species, studies with an appropriate counterfactual (what would have happened in the absence of protection) are rare. We use the world’s largest database on waterbird counts (covering 587 species at 21,989 sites globally) to answer three questions: 1) Do PAs have a positive impact on waterbird population trends relative to a counterfactual (this includes cases where a PA has lessened, but not halted, a population decline)?; 2) are PAs performing successfully by maintaining or increasing populations? and 3) what factors contribute to PA impact and performance? We selected 15,703 waterbird populations (here defined as a site species combination), consisting of 311 species at 870 protected sites, where PA designation occurred at least 5 years after the first survey date, and 5 years before the last. We will use this to compare trends before PA designation to those afterwards. We then matched these sites to unprotected sites with similar covariates in the years before PA designation, resulting in a matching dataset of 6,451 populations pairs consisting of 39 species at 769 pairs of protected and unprotected sites. We will use this to compare trends both before and after PA designation and inside and outside of PAs. Our results will shed light on the impact of PA on hundreds of waterbird species, providing much needed evidence regarding PA effectiveness. As PA performance is a sensitive subject and it is important to develop hypotheses before knowing the results (especially for the relatively complex data analysis used in matching protected and unprotected sites), we present a pre-analysis plan. This will ensure that the final paper’s analyses are hypotheses testing, rather than generating, and avoids the risk of, or perception of, data dredging.
Gender and Age in the Professions: Intersectionality, Meta-work, and Social Change
Authors: Choroszewicz Marta , Adams Tracey L.
Published: June 2019

Sociologists have paid little attention to the shifting significance of gender to professional work. Nevertheless, there is evidence that the meanings attached to gender, and the gendering of work, have shifted over time, such that the experiences of newer cohorts of professionals differ from those of professionals in previous generations. In this paper, we show how combining intersectionality theory and life course approaches facilitates the exploration of inequalities by gender, class, and race/ethnicity across generations and age cohorts. We present empirical research findings to demonstrate how this approach illuminates the convergence of gender and age in the professions to confer privilege and produce disadvantage in professional workplaces. Subsequently, we introduce the concept of meta-work—hidden, invisible and laborious work performed by non-traditional and disadvantaged professionals—through which they endeavor to cope with structural inequalities embedded in the professions. As professions and professional workplaces are still designed primarily for middle-class, dominant-ethnicity men, professionals who do not fit these categories need to invest extra time and energy to develop individual strategies and tactics to cope with professional pressures in and around their work. Meta-work is intrinsically linked to the traditional and normative ideals surrounding professional roles and identities, and therefore is intimately connected with professionals’ sense of self and their feeling of belonging to professional communities. Meta-work, and the tactics and strategies that result from it, are important coping mechanisms for some professionals, enabling them to deal with rapidly changing work realities and a lack of collegial support. Finally, we highlight several areas for future research on the intersections of gender and age in the professions.
Wnt signaling in liver disease: emerging trends from a bibliometric perspective
Authors: Jiang Guangyi , Huang Chiung-Kuei , Zhang Xinjie , Lv Xingyu , Wang Yifan , Yu Tunan , Cai Xiujun
Published: June 2019

Background

The Wnt signaling pathway, an evolutionarily conserved molecular transduction cascade, has been identified as playing a pivotal role in various physiological and pathological processes of the liver, including homeostasis, regeneration, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we aimed to use a bibliometric method to evaluate the emerging trends on Wnt signaling in liver diseases.

Methods

Articles were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. We used a bibliometric software, CiteSpace V 5.3.R4, to analyze the active countries or institutions in the research field, the landmark manuscripts, important subtopics, and evolution of scientific ideas.

Results

In total, 1,768 manuscripts were published, and each was cited 33.12 times on average. The U.S. published most of the articles, and the most active center was the University of Pittsburgh. The top 5 landmark papers were identified by four bibliometric indexes including citation, burstness, centrality, and usage 2013. The clustering process divided the whole area into nine research subtopics, and the two major important subtopics were “liver zonation” and “HCC.” Using the “Part-of-Speech” technique, 1,743 terms representing scientific ideas were identified. After 2008, the bursting phrases were “liver development,” “progenitor cells,” “hepatic stellate cells,” “liver regeneration,” “liver fibrosis,” “epithelial-mesenchymal transition,” and etc.

Conclusion

Using bibliometric methods, we quantitatively summarized the advancements and emerging trends in Wnt signaling in liver diseases. These bibliometric findings may pioneer the future direction of this field in the next few years, and further studies are needed.
A functional magnetic resonance imaging investigation of the autonomous sensory meridian response
Authors: Smith Stephen D. , Fredborg Beverley K. , Kornelsen Jennifer
Published: June 2019

Background

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a sensory-emotional experience in which specific stimuli (ASMR “triggers”) elicit tingling sensations on the scalp, neck, and shoulders; these sensations are accompanied by a positive affective state. In the current research, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used in order to delineate the neural substrates of these responses.

Methods

A total of 17 individuals with ASMR and 17 age- and sex-matched control participants underwent fMRI scanning while watching six 4-minute videos. Three of the videos were designed to elicit ASMR tingling and three videos were not.

Results

The results demonstrated that ASMR videos have a distinct effect on the neural activity of individuals with ASMR. The contrast of ASMR participants’ responses to ASMR videos showed greater activity in the cingulate gyrus as well as in cortical regions related to audition, movement, and vision. This activity was not observed in control participants. The contrast of ASMR and control participants’ responses to ASMR-eliciting videos detected greater activity in right cingulate gyrus, right paracentral lobule, and bilateral thalamus in ASMR participants; control participants showed greater activity in the lingula and culmen of the cerebellum.

Conclusions

Together, these results highlight the fact that ASMR videos elicit activity in brain areas related to sensation, emotion, and attention in individuals with ASMR, but not in matched control participants.
Molecular mechanisms linking peri-implantitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus revealed by transcriptomic analysis
Authors: Yu Tianliang , Acharya Aneesha , Mattheos Nikos , Li Simin , Ziebolz Dirk , Schmalz Gerhard , Haak Rainer , Schmidt Jana , Sun Yu
Published: June 2019

Aims

To explore molecular mechanisms that link peri-implantitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by bioinformatic analysis of publicly available experimental transcriptomic data.

Materials and methods

Gene expression data from peri-implantitis were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, integrated and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in peri-implantitis were identified. Next, experimentally validated and computationally predicted genes related to T2DM were downloaded from the DisGeNET database. Protein–protein interaction network (PPI) pairs of DEGs related to peri-implantitis and T2DM related genes were constructed, “hub” genes and overlapping DEG were determined. Functional enrichment analysis was used to identify significant shared biological processes and signaling pathways. The PPI networks were subjected to cluster and specific class analysis for identifying “leader” genes. Module network analysis of the merged PPI network identified common or cross-talk genes connecting the two networks.

Results

A total of 92 DEGs overlapped between peri-implantitis and T2DM datasets. Three hub genes (IL-6, NFKB1, and PIK3CG) had the highest degree in PPI networks of both peri-implantitis and T2DM. Three leader genes (PSMD10, SOS1, WASF3), eight cross-talk genes (PSMD10, PSMD6, EIF2S1, GSTP1, DNAJC3, SEC61A1, MAPT, and NME1), and one signaling pathway (IL-17 signaling) emerged as peri-implantitis and T2DM linkage mechanisms.

Conclusions

Exploration of available transcriptomic datasets revealed IL-6, NFKB1, and PIK3CG expression along with the IL-17 signaling pathway as top candidate molecular linkage mechanisms between peri-implantitis and T2DM.
Farmers’ Network Analysis on Diffusion and Adoption of CAU-R1 Variety in Imphal East District of Manipur
Authors: Jyothi S. S. P. , Devarani Loukham
Published: June 2019

Food security with increased and sustained production of the major cereal crops in India is the need of the hour. The role of farmers as informal extension agents has been depicted in many recent studies emphasising the need for studies on network linkages between the farmer communities and the stakeholders in dissemination and adoption of improved technologies. The present study has been conducted to understand the role of social networks in the diffusion of CAU-R1 variety among the farmers of Manipur. The research design employed was exploratory and the sampling procedure was mixed sampling with purposive sampling for the selection of the state, district and key farmers. Snowball sampling was used to identify other farmers in the network. The sample size was 64 farmers from eight villages in Imphal East district. The socio-economic profile of the farmers showed that majority belonged to medium age between 36 years to 50 years, medium level of innovativeness, social participation, cosmopoliteness and risk bearing ability. The Social Network Analysis measures employed for the study were the centrality measures that include the degree, closeness and betweenness centrality to identify the most central, influential and powerful actors in the network. The average in-degree and out-degree was found to be equal for all the villages with a maximum degree centrality of 16. The betweenness centralization index of the networks was very low (24.55%) indicating very slow rate of spread of information and information sharing restricted only between few actors in the network. Social participation and trainings were positively correlated while the farming experience and time taken for adoption were negatively correlated with the network measures. The outcomes revealed that there is need for a more concerted effort by the farmers and stakeholders to sensitize farmers about the variety through exposure visits, trainings, incentives and timely input supply.
Perception and Management of Fever in Children, by Mothers in Port Harcourt Nigeria
Authors: Eberechukwu Yaguo Ide, Lucy , Aderonke Shorinwa Olusayo
Published: June 2019

To determine mother’s perception and management of fever in their children. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study, carried out at the children outpatient clinic of the department of Paediatrics, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, over a one-year period, January to December, 2012. Every mother who presented with her child to the children outpatient clinic was recruited and interviewed using a structured questionnaire after obtaining written informed consent, as they presented their children to the children outpatient clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital until   we recruited 324mothers, whose children aged between 0-16 years into the study.  A little over half of these mothers had completed secondary education. The thermometer was used by 209(64.50%) mothers and the preferred route was by mouth 135(41.67%). 175(54.01%) mothers  reported temperature <35ºC as fever. 49.07% of the mothers were worried about the consequences of the fever.  43(13.3%) would give paracetamol. 24(7.4%) would tepid sponge. 15(4.6%) would give a cold bath. 6(1.9%) expose the child to air with reduced clothing. 4(1.2%), wrap the child with warm and thick cloth. 2(0.6%) gave antibiotics. 11 (3.4%) gave antimalaria.  6(1.9%) gave teething drugs. 1 (0.3%) gave nothing. Most mothers got their information on knowledge of fever management from doctors and nurses-164(50.62%). Paracetamol was the most commonly used drug by mothers for the treatment of fever at home-217 (67%). 87(26.852%) would take the child to hospital if fever persisted. This study found a significant association between using physical methods such as giving cold bath to reduce fever, and tepid sponging to reduce fever with no formal education P < 0.0001 and P< 0.0165 respectively. Data was analyzed using Epi-info version 7. Mothers awareness of fever in Port Harcourt is low and Paracetamol is commonly given to children with fever.
Measuring Hazard Vulnerability by Bank Erosion of the Ganga River in Malda District Using PAR Model
Authors: Biswas Rubia , Anwaruzzaman A. K. M.
Published: June 2019

River banks are characterised by dynamic environments that change in response to a variety of inputs. Bank erosion ordinarily means losses of bank materials and individual particles or aggregates by fluvial, sub-aerial and geo-tectonic processes. It is a common phenomenon of geomorphic hazard associated with flood plains and meandering or braided river system. The problem of bank erosion and shifting of the course of the river Ganga in certain C.D. blocks of Malda District is not purely an environment-related problem but a unique combination of both environment and ‘development’ project. The objective of the present paper is to measure the vulnerability of the villages that are situated adjacent to the Ganga River. Data was obtained from both primary as well as secondary sources. The primary data was collected through observation method and through informal interviews with the affected people. Secondary information was obtained from various research works encountered during the study. The study was framed on the lines of Pressure and Release (PAR) model developed by Wisner, Blaikie, Cannon and Davis (1994 & 2003). The inhabitants of these villages are facing serious problems related to employment, health, education, sanitation, drinking water supply and market due to the river bank erosion. In some areas people suffer from the irony of dual citizenship. No remedial measures are seriously taken by concerned authorities to solve this problem. Thus, it is incumbent on the part of the government and NGOs to devise corrective mechanism to curb the threat to the existence of the affected people as well as to improve their quality of life.
Microbiological Analysis of Beef Meat Collected at different Hours of the Day in Ekpoma Town Market
Authors: Okoh P. I.
Published: June 2019

A study on the microbiological analysis of beef meat collected at different hours of the day in Ekpoma market was carried out. 1 Kg of meat sample was purchased from the market at the different times (8 am, 12 noon and 5 pm) respectively. A part was cut into ten samples of ten grams each, which served as replicates. They were put in a clean polythene bag, labeled accordingly, and taken to the laboratory for microbiological analysis. Ten grams of the meat samples were weighed and homogenized into 90 mls of sterile distiller de-ionized water, using a sterile warring blender and ten folds dilution of the homogenates was made using sterile pipettes. Mean counts of total proteolytic bacteria count (TPC), total viable count (TVC), Coliforms, Salmonella spp, Pseudomonas organisms and Bacillus spp, were all determined in the collected samples. Results from the study showed that total proteolytic bacteria count (TPC) was significantly (P<0.05) higher in samples collected at 5pm having 7.867, compared with those collected at 12 noon and 8 am having 6.050 and 5.267 log10 CFU/g respectively. Total viable count (TVC) were significantly (P<0.05) lesser at 8am having 4.517, compared with 12 noon and 5 pm which recorded 5.520 and 7.723 log10 CFU/g respectively. Also, coliforms counts were significantly (P<0.05) higher at 5 pm when compared at 12 noon and 8 am, while Pseudomonas count recorded significantly (P<0.05) lesser value at 8 am having 1.193, compared with 12 noon and 5 pm which had 2.500 and 3.557 log10 CFU/g respectively. Total Bacillus counts also recorded a significantly (P<0.05) lesser values of 1.100 at 8am compared with 1.823 at 12noon and 3.030 at 5 pm, while those of Salmonella spp. recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher value of 3.030 at 5 pm compared with 3.283 and 2.937 log10 CFU/g recorded at 12 noon and 8 am respectively. This shows that microbiological analysis of beef meat were higher as the time (hours) of the day progressed. In conclusion, meat should be bought from the market in the early hours (8 am) of the day.
Aerobic Bacteriological Profile and Antimicrobial Sensitivity Pattern of Bacteria Isolated from Sterile Body Fluids: A Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in North India
Authors: Rouf Mariya , Nazir Asifa
Published: June 2019

Aims: This study aims to isolate and identify the aerobic bacterial pathogens of sterile body fluids and to determine their susceptibility to various antibacterial agents.

Study Design: This study was a retrospective observational study conducted in a tertiary care hospital.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, SMHS hospital, Srinagar. A total of 814 samples were analysed for bacteriological culture and antibiotic sensitivity over a period of one year, from April 2018 to March 2019.

Methodology: Clinical specimens (pleural fluid, ascitic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, Synovial fluid, pericardial fluid and bile) were processed for bacterial culture according to standard procedures and antimicrobial susceptibility test for isolated organisms was done using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method and interpreted as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations.

Results: In 814 samples of various body fluids, 88 samples showed growth of organism with an isolation rate of 10.81%. growth was most commonly seen in CSF (34.09%) followed by Ascitic fluid (23.86%, Bile (20.45), Pleural fluid (15.90%) and Synovial fluid (5.68%). No growth was obtained from pericardial fluid. The most predominant isolates were E. coli (23.86%), Pseudomonas sp (15.90%), Acinetobacter (14.77%), Klebsiella sp (7.95%), Staphylococcus aureus (11.36%), CONS (12.5%) and Enterococcus sp (4.54%). E. coli and Klebsiella were sensitive to imipenem, meropenem. colistin, amikacin and gentamicin. Staph. aureus and CONS were mostly sensitive to vancomycin, linezolid, and teicoplanin. Pseudomonas was sensitive to imipenem, meropenem, colistin and piperacillin/tazobactam. Acinetobacter, E. coli and Klebsiella sp were the most resistant organisms.

Conclusion: In our study significant numbers of multidrug resistant bacteria were isolated from body fluids which calls for regular monitoring of prevalent pathogenic organisms and their sensitivities to avoid indiscriminate use of unnecessary antibiotics and the development of antibiotic resistance.
What Is Chagas Disease?
Authors: Voelker Rebecca
Published: December 2024

This JAMA Patient Page describes the parasitic infection Chagas disease and its risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
Implementation of a Metered-Dose Inhaler to Dry-Powder Inhaler National Formulary Transition
Authors: Rabin Alexander S. , Weinstein Julien B. , Whittington Taylor N. , Hogan Cainnear K. , Khachikian Deborah , Seelye Sarah M. , Prescott Hallie C.
Published: December 2024

This quality improvement study analyzes prescribing patterns among US Department of Veterans Affairs facilities after a July 2021 metered-dose inhaler (budesonide-formoterol) to dry-powder inhaler (fluticasone-salmeterol) national formulary transition.
Using a ‘Students as Partners’ model to develop an authentic assessment promoting employability skills in undergraduate life science education
Authors: Van Kelsey , Tasawar Sana , Brendel Elaina B. K. , Law Camille , Mahajan Anisha , Brownell‐Riddell Carissa , Diamond Natalia , Ritchie Kerry , Monk Jennifer M.
Published: December 2024

Authentic assessments (AA) include three principles, realism, cognitive challenge, and evaluative judgment, and replicate professional workplace expectations. Developing AA in undergraduate life science education is necessary to promote critical skill development and adequately prepare students for the workplace. Using a ‘Students‐as‐Partners’ (SAP) approach, five students, an educational developer and the instructor codeveloped an AA requiring students to utilize scientific literacy (SL) and critical thinking (CT) skills to develop a data extraction table and generate communication outputs for scientific and nonscientific audiences. Subsequently, the SAP‐developed AA was completed by students (n = 173) enrolled in a fourth‐year life sciences and pathophysiology course who completed an online survey providing feedback about their perceived development of critical skills and the relevance of the assignment to the workplace. The top transferable skills students reported the greatest growth in were SL (41.6%, n = 72), communication (34.7%, n = 60), CT (16.2%, n = 28), and problem‐solving (7.5%, n = 13). Student self‐assessed and instructor‐assessed grades were positively correlated, wherein 60.6% of students assessed their AA grades below the instructor's assessment and 4.7% of students assigned themselves the same grade as the instructor. Students' perceived stress levels were (a) negatively correlated with assignment grades and feelings of enjoyment, hope and pride, and (b) positively correlated with feelings of anger, anxiety, shame, and hopelessness while working on the assignment. This study demonstrates the impact of AA on the student learning experience and the relevance of AA to help prepare students for life science careers.
Perceptual Expertise of Forensic Examiners and Reviewers on Tests of Cross‐Race and Disguised Face Identification and Face Memory
Authors: Yates Amy N. , Cavazos Jacqueline G. , Jeckeln Géraldine , Hu Ying , Noyes Eilidh , Hahn Carina A. , O'Toole Alice J. , Phillips P. Jonathon
Published: December 2024

Forensic facial professionals have been shown in previous studies to identify people from frontal face images more accurately than untrained participants when given 30 s per face pair. We tested whether this superiority holds in more challenging conditions. Two groups of forensic facial professionals (examiners, reviewers) and untrained participants were tested in three lab‐based tasks: other‐race face identification, disguised face identification, and face memory. For other‐race face identification, on same‐race faces, examiners were superior to controls; on different‐race identification, examiners and controls performed comparably. Examiners were superior to controls for impersonation disguise, but not consistently superior for evasion disguise. Examiners' performance on the Cambridge Face Memory Test (CFMT+) was marginally better than reviewers and controls. We conclude that under laboratory‐style conditions, professional examiners' identification superiority does not generalize completely to other‐race and disguised faces. Future work should administer other‐race and disguise face identification tests that allow forensic professionals to follow methods and procedures they typically use in casework.
Multifunctional Cement‐Based Composite with Advanced Self‐Sensing, Electrothermal, and Electrochemical Properties
Authors: Jin Peng , Kohestanian Mohammad , Hasany Masoud , Akhiani Amir Reza , Su Yilin , Mehrali Mehdi
Published: December 2024

Developing multifunctional construction materials with advanced functionalities and excellent mechanical toughness remains a significant challenge within the field of civil engineering. Herein, a scalable and cost‐effective approach for fabricating versatile cement‐based composites is introduced. This is achieved by pre‐embedding a 3D‐printed conductive lattice framework (LF) into cement pastes with the incorporation of carbon black (CB). LFs contribute significantly to the flexural extension of the composite structure and when combined with CB, they substantially improve the conductivity of the matrix, enabling its self‐sensing applications. Moreover, the obtained conductivity enables the application of electrochemical deposition techniques for in situ polymerization and deposition of polypyrrole (PPy) onto the composite surface. PPy coatings further endow the cement‐based composites with excellent electrothermal and electrochemical performance. For instance, applying a direct current voltage of 18 V for 10 min results in a temperature increase exceeding 45 °C, indicating promising de‐icing capabilities. When assembled as a supercapacitor, it exhibits an outstanding energy density, reaching 61.7 µWh cm−2 at a power density of 150 µW cm−2 and demonstrating its potential for energy storage application in the construction sector. In conclusion, this study introduces an innovative strategy for the advancement of intelligent and multifunctional cement‐based construction materials, emphasizing the importance of multifunctionality in modern construction practices.
Engineering of Nanofibers Embedded with Targeted Nanoparticles Breaks Redox Levers for Glioblastoma Therapy
Authors: Ma Yuan , Li Mengqi , Fu Xiao , Li Dongchen , Gao Chen , Li Zhiwei , Zhang Yulin , Gao Zhiliang , Geng Huimin , Li Gang , Ni Shilei , Cui Jiwei
Published: December 2024

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), one of the most aggressive brain cancers, presents substantial therapeutic challenges, particularly concerning postsurgical recurrence and inherent drug resistance. In this study, a nanofiber‐based drug delivery system integrating platinum pro‐drugs and hemoglobin into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HB/HSPt@MS NPs) is reported, which are surface‐modified with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and targeting molecules, and subsequently embedded into nanofibers using an electrostatic spinning approach. Applied to the tumor site, these nanofibers leverage folate receptor overexpression on the tumor and the tumor's redox state to enable precise platinum release, inducing cell death through a targeted drug resistance pathway. The incorporation of hemoglobin is crucial as it disrupts the redox balance within GBM cells by facilitating the influx of iron ions, leading to lipid peroxidation through the Fenton reaction. This induces oxidative stress and overwhelms the cellular antioxidant mechanisms. This dual mechanism of action—direct cytotoxicity through sustained drug release and indirect cytotoxicity through induced oxidative stress—enhances the therapeutic efficacy of platinum drugs. The system effectively bypasses the blood‐brain barrier and reduces systemic toxicity, significantly improving delivery efficacy. Both in vitro and in vivo evaluations demonstrate substantial inhibition of tumor growth and recurrence, highlighting the potential for personalized GBM therapy.
Polyurethane‐Based Bioglue for the Repair of Arterial Ruptures
Authors: Wu Wenxuan , Xuan Chengkai , Jiang Yaqiang , Lu Haotian , Yan Shengtao , Shi Xuetao
Published: December 2024

A bioglue with fast blood absorption and strong adhesion, capable of stopping bleeding through physical blockage rather than coagulation, is imperative for treating arterial hematorrhea during surgery and in wilderness first aid. Here, we developed a two‐component polyurethane‐based arterial glue (PAG). The key strategy of this work is to optimize the hydrophilicity and crosslinking density of the bioglue by modulating the proportion of hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG)‐based urethane prepolymer, the hydrophobicamine crosslinkers, and the functionality of the crosslinkers. Compared with commercial PEG‐based bioglue, PAG has a similar water absorption rate but less swelling. Furthermore, owing to the hydrogen bonding originating from the urethane/urea bonds and extracovalent bond formation with tissue, PAG showed ≈2 times greater adhesive strength than commercial PEG‐based bioglues. In addition, PAG has good hemocompatibility and maintains cured integrity even under circulating blood flushing conditions, thereby reducing the risk of arterial embolism. This bioglue demonstrated a more reliable sealing effect with a higher survival rate compared to commercial fibrin and PEG‐based bioglues on the rat abdominal aorta and rabbit carotid artery in open operations; moreover, it can be assembled into a commercial balloon dilation catheter system, enabling minimally invasive surgeries on the porcine femoral artery.