Star Formation in the Milky Way. The Infrared View

I present a brief review of some of the most recent and active topics of star formation process in the Milky Way using mid and far infrared observations, and motivated by the research being carried out by our science group using data gathered by the Spitzer and Herschel space telescopes. These topics include bringing together the scaling relationships found in extragalactic systems with that of the local nearby molecular clouds, the synthetic modeling of the Milky Way and estimates of its star formation rate.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures. To apper in "Cosmic-ray induced phenomenology in star-forming environments: Proceedings of the 2nd Session of the Sant Cugat Forum of Astrophysics" (April 16-19, 2012), Olaf Reimer and Diego F. Torres (eds.

Factors Influencing Charitable Giving in Malaysia: An Islamic Perspective

Purpose ― This study aims to discover how Islam, as a religion, influences its believers to contribute in the form of gifts, donations or charity, generally referred to as tabarruʿ. Design/Methodology/Approach ― Structural equation modelling analysis was used to investigate the online questionnaire responses from 402 Muslims who have contributed to charity. Findings ― The study finds that only targhīb (reward) and tarhīb (threat) have a significant positive relationship with tabarruʿ, while iḥsān (excellence) and ukhūwah (brotherhood)―despite showing positive influence―are not significant. It also highlights that the influences of targhīb and tarhīb are more robust when the respondent has a higher level of education. Originality/Value ― To the best of the authors’ knowledge, only a few studies on the influence of religion on charitable behaviour have been carried out. So far, no study has looked at the determining variables from the standpoint of Islam. Research Limitations/Implications ― Due to constraints of time and research funding, the sample population was not drawn from all states in Malaysia. The sample was restricted to Malaysians in Sabah, Malaysia. Practical Implications ― This study highlights that non-profit organisations in Malaysia, especially those from an Islamic background, should be able to organise their fundraising strategies with an emphasis on the factors of targhīb and tarhīb

The acceptance of online zakat payment among Muslims in east Malaysia: a conceptual study

Paying zakat is one of Islam’s many obligations. Zakat, as one of the five pillars of Islam, is usually paid in cash. However, changes in time and technological modernity have pushed people to pay zakat in new ways, such as online. The ability to pay zakat online is closely driven by the availability of the payment service and the readiness of technological access. Individuals who intend to pay zakat online in East Malaysia are assumed to face significant challenges, such as a lack of internet connectivity infrastructure, which resulted in slow technology adoption. This research aims to look into the acceptance of online zakat payment among Muslims in East Malaysia. Factors, namely perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), with the addition of perceived efficiency and maslahah, were used as the study framework. The study’s findings are expected to show the significance of Muslim individuals accepting to pay zakat online in East Malaysia. In any case, apart from contributing to the body of knowledge, this study is expected to provide insights to policymakers, especially zakat institutions, on the need to improve the awareness and motivate muzakki to pay zakat online

Replication Protein A (RPA) Hampers the Processive Action of APOBEC3G Cytosine Deaminase on Single-Stranded DNA

deamination assays and expression of A3G in yeast, we show that replication protein A (RPA), the eukaryotic single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding protein, severely inhibits the deamination activity and processivity of A3G. on long ssDNA regions. This resembles the “hit and run” single base substitution events observed in yeast., we propose that RPA plays a role in the protection of the human genome cell from A3G and other deaminases when they are inadvertently diverged from their natural targets. We propose a model where RPA serves as one of the guardians of the genome that protects ssDNA from the destructive processive activity of deaminases by non-specific steric hindrance

Conformation Effects of CpG Methylation on Single-Stranded DNA Oligonucleotides: Analysis of the Opioid Peptide Dynorphin-Coding Sequences

Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) is characterized by high conformational flexibility that allows these molecules to adopt a variety of conformations. Here we used native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to show that cytosine methylation at CpG sites affects the conformational flexibility of short ssDNA molecules. The CpG containing 37-nucleotide PDYN (prodynorphin) fragments were used as model molecules. The presence of secondary DNA structures was evident from differences in oligonucleotide mobilities on PAGE, from CD spectra, and from formation of A-T, G-C, and non-canonical G-T base pairs observed by NMR spectroscopy. The oligonucleotides displayed secondary structures at 4°C, and some also at 37°C. Methylation at CpG sites prompted sequence-dependent formation of novel conformations, or shifted the equilibrium between different existing ssDNA conformations. The effects of methylation on gel mobility and base pairing were comparable in strength to the effects induced by point mutations in the DNA sequences. The conformational effects of methylation may be relevant for epigenetic regulatory events in a chromatin context, including DNA-protein or DNA-DNA recognition in the course of gene transcription, and DNA replication and recombination when double-stranded DNA is unwinded to ssDNA

The Alvarado score for predicting acute appendicitis: a systematic review

Background: The Alvarado score can be used to stratify patients with symptoms of suspected appendicitis; the validity of the score in certain patient groups and at different cut points is still unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the discrimination (diagnostic accuracy) and calibration performance of the Alvarado score. Methods: A systematic search of validation studies in Medline, Embase, DARE and The Cochrane library was performed up to April 2011. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of the score at the two cut-off points: score of 5 (1 to 4 vs. 5 to 10) and score of 7 (1 to 6 vs. 7 to 10). Calibration was analysed across low (1 to 4), intermediate (5 to 6) and high (7 to 10) risk strata. The analysis focused on three sub-groups: men, women and children. Results: Forty-two studies were included in the review. In terms of diagnostic accuracy, the cut-point of 5 was good at 'ruling out' admission for appendicitis (sensitivity 99% overall, 96% men, 99% woman, 99% children). At the cut-point of 7, recommended for 'ruling in' appendicitis and progression to surgery, the score performed poorly in each subgroup (specificity overall 81%, men 57%, woman 73%, children 76%). The Alvarado score is well calibrated in men across all risk strata (low RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.28; intermediate 1.09, 0.86 to 1.37 and high 1.02, 0.97 to 1.08). The score over-predicts the probability of appendicitis in children in the intermediate and high risk groups and in women across all risk strata. Conclusions: The Alvarado score is a useful diagnostic 'rule out' score at a cut point of 5 for all patient groups. The score is well calibrated in men, inconsistent in children and over-predicts the probability of appendicitis in women across all strata of risk

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

An exploration of social networking sites (SNS) adoption in Malaysia using technology acceptance model (TAM), theory of planned behavior (TPB) and intrinsic motivation

The objective of the paper is to explore the factors that encourage students to adopt social network sites (SNS) in Malaysia and to use the study’s findings to develop guidelines for SNS providers on how to maximize the rate of adoption. A conceptual model of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and intrinsic motivation is proposed and empirically tested in the context of SNS usage. Structural Equation modelling was used on the survey data from 283 university students to test the model fit and corresponding hypotheses. The results show that both TAM and TPB were supported in their predictions of SNS usage intention and perceived enjoyment is a more significant antecedent of attitude as compared to perceived usefulness. Other than communicating with others, the users are looking for fun and enjoyment from using SNS. The relationships between the factors were also presented. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed at the end of the article. The paper has addressed two limitations that provide opportunities for other researchers to explore them in depth in the future in the similar field of social network sites (SNS). The limitations are presented in the conclusion’s part. For researchers, this paper provides a framework to identify and understand the way the potential key factors contribute to the adoption of SNS. For practitioners, this framework lists the features that specifically attract SNS users. Understanding users’ preferences is of major importance in e businesses for making strategic decisions to increase user satisfaction, as well as improving the performance of the business