Border Crossings: Transnational Americanist Anthopology

For anthropologists and social scientists working in North and South America, the past few decades have brought considerable change as issues such as repatriation, cultural jurisdiction, and revitalization movements have swept across the hemisphere. Today scholars are rethinking both how and why they study culture as they gain a new appreciation for the impact they have on the people they study. Key to this reassessment of the social sciences is a rethinking of the concept of borders: not only between cultures and nations but between disciplines such as archaeology and cultural anthropology, between past and present, and between anthropologists and indigenous peoples. Border Crossings is a collection of fourteen essays about the evolving focus and perspective of anthropologists and the anthropology of North and South America over the past two decades. For a growing number of researchers, the realities of working in the Americas have changed the distinctions between being a “Latin,” “North,” or “Native” Americanist as these researchers turn their interests and expertise simultaneously homeward and out across the globe

Informing retention in longitudinal cohort studies through a social marketing lens: Raine Study Generation 2 participants' perspectives on benefits and barriers to participation

BACKGROUND: Longitudinal cohort studies have made significant contributions to medical discoveries and provide the impetus for health interventions which reduce the risk of disease. Establishing and maintaining these cohorts is challenging and costly. While some attrition is unavoidable, maintaining a sufficient number of participants ensures that results remain representative and free from bias. Numerous studies have investigated ways to reduce attrition but few studies have sought to understand the experience of participants, and none have examined this through a social marketing framework. This first paper in a two part-series describes participants' experiences according to: benefits, barriers, motivators and influencers. The second paper uses this understanding to address issues relating to the 4Ps (product, price, place, promotion) of social marketing. METHODS: Participants were recruited from the Raine Study, a pregnancy cohort study that has been running in Western Australia since 1989. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 29 active and inactive participants from the Generation 2 cohort, who were originally enrolled in the Raine Study at birth by their parents (Generation 1). 'Active' participants (n = 17) were defined as those who agreed to attend their 27 year follow-up, while 'inactive' (n = 12) participants were defined as those who had not attended either of the past two follow-ups (at 22 and 27 years). RESULTS: There were considerable differences between active and inactive participants, with active participants perceiving far more personal and collective benefits from their participation. Inactive participants described being constrained by structural barriers around work and life, whereas active participants were able to overcome them to attend follow-ups. Inactive participants also described the value of extrinsic incentives which might motivate their attendance, and active participants described the role of their parents as significant influencers in their propensity to remain in the study. CONCLUSIONS: This paper provides rich descriptions of what participation in a long-running study means to participants. Use of a social marketing framework ensured that participants were constructed as 'human consumers' who are influenced by individual and broader social systems. Understanding participants in this way means that differentiated strategies can be tailored to enhance retention

Estimation Of The Genetic Parameters Of Eight Soybean Varieties In The Wasegi Village At Prafi District Manokwari Regency

This study aims to estimate genetic parameters including genetic diversity coefficient, phenotypic diversity coefficient, heritability value, and the correlation between the character of plants from eight soybean varieties. The research was conducted from August to December 2017, in the Wasafi Village of Prafi District, Manokwari Regency. The study was designed using Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 8 treatments of soybean varieties. Each treatment was repeated 4 times, to obtain 32 experimental units. The data obtained were analyzed using ANOVA and if it had a significant effect, it was further tested using the Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at the 95% level, through the Costat program. The results of ANOVA analysis were used to obtain Variable Partition values, Genetic Diversity Coefficient (GDC), Phenotype Diversity Coefficient (PDC), and Heritability. Correlations between characters were also analyzed using the Costat program. Estimation results of genetic parameters indicate that the characters selected for selection criteria are based on the value of GDC, PDC, and high heritability are number of branches, number of fertile books, number of filled pods, and number of total pods. The characters that show a positive correlation with the character of the results are plant height, number of trifoliate leaves, harvest age, number of filled pods, number of empty pods, total pods, and number of seeds per plant, while characters that show a negative correlation to a seed weight character are flowering age

EVALUATION OF TEACHERS’ CAPACITY IN ABSORBING NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR TEACHING STUDENTS IN SELECTED TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA

This study examines how teachers manage new technologies in the process of teaching their students. The advent of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has doubtlessly impacted on almost every discipline, and teaching inclusive. Both hardware and software have been made available to aid teaching and learning including e-learning, e-assessment, etc. Despite the great potentials that the technologies have, not only to revolutionise the educational process, but also to engender the suitability of graduates to take on real life challenges in the ever evolving global working environment. After considering the issue of ICT availability, however, there remains the pivotal role of teachers. This study, therefore, examines the interest, willingness to learn new things, and competence of teachers in the use of new technologies. Considering that they mediate what eventually gets to the students, it becomes germane to assess their exposure. To realize the objectives of the study the method of data analysis will utilise the logit regression framework

KEEPING UP WITH GLOBAL TRENDS: ASSESSING PRIVATE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS' TRAINING AND RETRAINING PROCESSES IN NIGERIA

This study examines the lifelong learning processes of tertiary institutions in Nigeria. One of the most unique attributes of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is the ability to simplify processes and aid efficiency. Institutions are not run the way they used to some decades back. This is attributed to the evolution of ICT. Since new technologies evolve at astonishing speed, it should be expected that tertiary institutions should not only learn of them, but also adopt them in their administrative processes. This brings to the fore the role of staff members in ensuring the success of this process. This study, therefore, examines the processes adopted by selected tertiary institutions to train and retrain their staff to be able to keep up with ICT trends using multinomial logistic model approach

A novel methodology for e-learning space design in HEI campuses

The Higher Education Institution and the Construction Industry are yet to define the most appropriate and effective design parameters for E-learning spaces. Those which exist, focus mainly on cost, budget and timely delivery i.e. the process only not the product. An effective approach to E-learning space design is needed to address the problems of space efficiency, effectiveness, quality, innovativeness, performance and client satisfaction. This study aimed to develop a novel methodology for e-learning space design, by investigating: the impact of e-learning on facilities and design; the impact of e-learning on the design of future spaces; the impact of blended learning on space design; designing for the learn anytime, anywhere paradigm; security issues of e-learning and e-learning space design, the levels of design risk in an e-learning infrastructure and inclusive design issues. A Grounded theory approach was used during initial desk studies, synchronized with a three part forum and pilot survey of 33participants. From this process, two hypotheses emerged; firstly, e-learning space design could affect users‘ learning outcomes and secondly that; user‘s learning requirements were different and varied. To investigate further, site based analyses of 11 HEI‘s, 10 interviews and subsequently a questionnaire survey was administered. Users‘ and stakeholders requirements and good examples of e-learning space design were identified. Data were analysed using a mixed-method research design approach. Three main constructs, Space design, Technology and the E-learning Space Design research focus (ELSD focus), emerged as significant components in the development of a novel framework for the design of e-learning spaces. The relationship between the components is such that the design of spaces with consideration of the ELSD research focus would ensure the effective identification, interpretation and delivery of users‘ requirement while maximising the benefits of the adoption of appropriate technology within HEI facilities. This was therefore proposed as the realistic framework/model for future design of E- learning Spaces in HEI campuses. The framework was adapted into a conceptual design guide to provide guidance for future space design. It is expected the study will support the HEI sector globally as it moves towards achieving best practice solutions to future E-learning space design in HEI campuses.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Metabolism and Effects on Endogenous Metabolism of Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) in a Porcine Model of Liver Failure

The metabolic fate, toxicity and effects on endogenous metabolism of paracetamol (acetaminophen, APAP) in 22 female Landrace cross large white pigs were evaluated in a model of acute liver failure (ALF). Anaesthetized pigs were initially dosed at 250 mg/kg via an oroduodenal tube with APAP serum concentrations maintained above 300 mg/L using maintenance doses of 0.5-4g/h until ALF. Studies were undertaken to determine both the metabolic fate of APAP and its effects on the endogenous metabolic phenotype of ALF in using 1H NMR spectroscopy. Increased concentrations of citrate combined with pre-ALF increases in circulating lactate, pyruvate and alanine in plasma suggest mitochondrial dysfunction and a switch in hepatic energy metabolism to glycolysis in response to APAP treatment. A specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay was used to quantify APAP and metabolites. The major circulating and urinary metabolite of APAP was the phenolic glucuronide (APAP-G), followed by p-aminophenol glucuronide (PAP-G) formed from N-deacetylated APAP. The PAP produced by N-deacetylation was the likely cause of the methaemoglobinemia and kidney toxicity observed in this, and previous, studies in the pig. The phenolic sulfate of APAP, and the glutathione-derived metabolites of the drug were only found as minor components (with the cysteinyl conjugate detected but not the mercapturate). Given its low sulfation, combined with significant capacity for N-deacetylation the pig may represent a poor translational model for toxicology studies for compounds undergoing significant metabolism by sulfation, or which contain amide bonds which when hydrolysed to unmask an aniline lead to toxicity. However, the pig may provide a useful model where extensive amide hydrolysis is seen for drugs or environmental chemicals in humans, but not in e.g., the rat and dog which are the pre-clinical species normally employed for safety assessment

The analysis of acetaminophen (paracetamol) and seven metabolites in rat, pig and human plasma by U(H)PLC–MS

A U(H)PLC–MS/MS method is described for the analysis of acetaminophen and its sulphate, glucuronide, glutathione, cysteinyl and N-acetylcysteinyl metabolites in plasma using stable isotope-labeled internal standards. P-Aminophenol glucuronide and 3-methoxyacetaminophen were monitored and semi-quantified using external standards. The assay takes 7.5 min/sample, requires only 5 μl of plasma and involves minimal sample preparation. The method was validated for rat plasma and cross validated for human and pig plasma and mouse serum. LOQ in plasma for these analytes were 0.44 μg/ml (APAP-C), 0.58 μg/ml (APAP-SG), 0.84 μg/ml (APAP-NAC), 2.75 μg/ml (APAP-S), 3.00 μg/ml (APAP-G) and 16 μg/ml (APAP). Application of the method is illustrated by the analysis of plasma following oral administration of APAP to male Han Wistar rats

A New Mapping Protocol for Laser Ablation (with Fast‐Funnel ) Coupled to a Time‐of‐Flight Mass Spectrometer ( LA‐FF‐ICP‐ToF‐MS ) for the Rapid, Simultaneous Quantification of Multiple Minerals

Although in situ analysis by LA-ICP-MS is considered a rapid technique with minimal sample preparation and data reduction, mapping areas of millimetres in size using a small beam (< 15 μm) can be time consuming (several hours) when a quadrupole ICP-MS is used. In addition, fully quantitative imaging using internal standardisation by LA-ICP-MS is challenging in samples with more than one mineral phase present due to varying ablation rates. A new protocol for the quantification of multiple coexisting phases, mapped at a rate of about 12 mm2 h-1 and a resolution of 12 μm × 12 μm per pixel, is presented. The protocol allows mapping of most atomic masses, ranging from 23Na to 238U, using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (ICP-ToF-MS, TOFWERK) connected to a 193 nm excimer laser. A fast-funnel device was successfully used to increase the aerosol transport speed, reducing the time usually required for mapping by a factor of about ten compared with a quadrupole ICP-MS. The lower limits of detection for mid and heavy masses are in the range 0.1–10 μg g-1, allowing determination of trace to ultra-trace elements. The presented protocol is intended to be a routine analytical tool that can provide greater access to the spatial distribution of major and trace elements in geological materials

Human Infection with Rickettsia felis, Kenya

This flea-borne pathogen was detected in febrile patients in North Eastern Province, Kenya