Predictors of Faculty Retention and Turnover Intent in State System Institutions: An Institution\u27s Work Environment (Organizational Structure) Impacts on Faculty Gender Composition and Intention to Leave or Stay

Retaining high-quality and competent faculty members requires academic institutions authorities to understand the institutional factors that determine faculty retention and turnover intent to help implement sound policies and practices to maintain these faculty members in academia. This research examined the institutional work dimensions related to faculty job satisfaction and intention to leave or stay, particularly in state system institutions. Survey data were garnered as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) ADVANCE PLAN-IHE grant project and were administered through various institutions\u27 representatives of the NSF ADVANCE PLAN-IHE grant program and were commissioned to work with their provosts to distribute the survey to faculty members. The study focused on all faculty members (including full faculty, associate faculty, assistant faculty, lecturers, and instructors) across six institutions in one higher education system in the Midwest. The study adopts an integrative approach based on the expectancy and gender equity (integrated gender lens) theoretical framework and demographic variables to examine the impact of institutional work dimensions on faculty job satisfaction and intention to leave or stay. Binary logistic regression and Pearson correlation were used to identify and model the relationships between predictor variables and the faculty intention to leave. The models were used to illustrate the positive and negative association and the direct and indirect effects of the faculty demographic characteristics, workload and work-life balance, faculty performance and productivity, and institutional commitment and support variables on the faculty turnover intent. The study found that the top strongest predictors of faculty intention to leave were faculty workload and work-life balance variables. Institutional budget cuts, Discrimination (Prejudice, racism, and sexism), teaching load, pressure to deliver more in terms of teaching were significant and positively related to the intention to leave, indicating a high faculty intention to leave. Faculty advancement and promotion variables also had the most substantial adverse effect on the intention to leave. Criteria for promotion decision are clear, someone encourages my development, adequate support for faculty development, were also significant and negatively associated with the intention to leave, suggesting fewer faculty members\u27 intention to leave. Resource variables were not too strong in predicting faculty intention to leave. The models proposed in this study indicate that model one (Intention to leave) was more effective in modeling the relationship between the institutional factors and faculty intention to leave than model two (Applied to other jobs). Although this study is limited by the availability of actual faculty turnover data, it invariably provides insights into faculty turnover rates and factors that influence faculty intentions to leave or stay. The study also offers academic institutions the understanding of the work environment\u27s impact and other associated determinants on the faculty members\u27 work-life balance, productivity and performance, and the institution’s reputation

Impacts of Urban Land Use on Sources of Drinking Water in Kumasi, Ghana

Land use has a major influence on water quality, and the issue is of great concern in developing world urban areas where there are competing land uses. Kumasi, Ghana like most cities in the developing world, struggles to control and prevent urban water supply pollution through appropriate water resource protection measures that minimize or eradicate adverse impacts of land uses. Presently all rivers in the city are highly polluted, including the one where raw-water is obtained for treatment and supply of potable water. This study investigates how sources of drinking water are impacted by land use in Kumasi, the implications associated with the impacts, community perceptions of urban land use impacts on sources of drinking water, and community adaptations to water supply problems. It relies on field data collected through semi-structured interviews, a transect walk conducted upstream from the source of public water supply, and a transect walk bisecting the river in each of two communities characterized by differing levels of economic affluence. The study also draws on other secondary data sources. Using these methods, the study finds that urban land use is increasing the nutrient content of the source of public water supply, threating water quality, reducing a water reservoir’s storage capacity, increasing the cost of water treatment, and contributing to water supply restrictions causing water scarcity at the household level, especially in the poor urban community. As a result residents use various coping mechanisms to manage with water scarcity. To ensure sustainable water supply, there is the need to address land use challenges and the threats they pose for sources of public water supply, and this calls for collaboration among all departments, institutions, agencies, and interest groups involved in land use and water resource protection issues

IMPACTS OF URBAN LAND USE CHANGE ON SOURCES OF DRINKING WATER IN KUMASI, GHANA

Land use has a major influence on water quality, and the issue is of great concern in developing world urban areas where there are competing land uses. Kumasi, Ghana like most cities in the developing world, struggles to control and prevent urban water supply pollution through appropriate water resource protection measures that minimize or eradicate adverse impacts of land uses. Presently all rivers in the city are highly polluted, including the one where raw-water is obtained for treatment and supply of potable water. This study investigates how sources of drinking water are impacted by land use in Kumasi, the implications associated with the impacts, community perceptions of urban land use impacts on sources of drinking water, and community adaptations to water supply problems. It relies on field data collected through semi-structured interviews, a transect walk conducted upstream from the source of public water supply, and a transect walk bisecting the river in each of two communities characterized by differing levels of economic affluence. The study also draws on other secondary data sources. Using these methods, the study finds that urban land use is increasing the nutrient content of the source of public water supply, threating water quality, reducing a water reservoir’s storage capacity, increasing the cost of water treatment, and contributing to water supply restrictions causing water scarcity at the household level, especially in the poor urban community. As a result residents use various coping mechanisms to manage with water scarcity. To ensure sustainable water supply, there is the need to address land use challenges and the threats they pose for sources of public water supply, and this calls for collaboration among all departments, institutions, agencies, and interest groups involved in land use and water resource protection issues

Evaluation Of Four Local Materials As Backfill To Achieve A Low Earth Electrode Resistance

In this study, the efficiency of materials available for free, namely palm kernel oil cake, tyre ash, wood ash and powdered cocoa shell, as conductive backfill for reducing earth electrode resistance was evaluated. Earth rod of 30-cm length and 14-mm diameter was installed for each backfilling material at a site and their performance compared with that of a reference earth rod also installed at the same site. The results show that tyre ash provides a stable earth electrode resistance in both dry and wet weather conditions and improves it to about 16%

Functional Groups Detection: Do Chemistry Teachers Demonstrate Conceptual Difficulties in Teaching?

The chemistry chief examiner of the West African Examination Council has complaint a lot about the weak performance of students on organic chemistry including functional group detection The study therefore investigated whether senior high school teachers who teach chemical concepts to students also demonstrated conceptual difficulties on functional group detection under organic qualitative analysis The study adopted convergent mixed methods procedures to collect both quantitative and qualitative data from 47 chemistry teachers The 47 teachers were sampled through multistage sampling procedures to respond to the Organic Qualitative Analysis Diagnostic Test for Teachers The quantitative data was analyzed using means standard deviations and percentages to reflect no scientific understanding partial scientific understanding and scientific understanding of functional group detection The qualitative data was open-coded and constantly compared to established teachers alternative conceptions and factual difficulties on functional group detectio

FACTORS INFLUENCING HIGH SCHOOL CHEMISTRY TEACHERS’ AND STUDENTS’ TEACHING AND LEARNING OF ORGANIC QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Identification and characterisation of the structures of unknown substances are important parts of learning organic chemistry. This paper reports on a study that investigated factors that influence the teaching and learning of organic qualitative analysis in organic chemistry. In all, three teachers and nine students from three different categories of schools participated in the study. Interview guides and an observation checklist were developed and used to obtain qualitative data. The qualitative data gathered from the interview were transcribed by reducing them to patterns and themes and analysed thematically. The study revealed, among others, that teaching and learning resources, practical-based instruction and the nature of the chemistry curriculum were the factors that impede chemistry teachers’ and students’ teaching and learning of organic qualitative analysis in organic chemistry.  Article visualizations

Identification of the Dietary Protein Sources and Their Association with Serum Phosphorus Levels among Patients with Kidney Failure

Background: Major dietary protein sources double as major sources of phosphorus with implications on serum phosphorus in kidney failure (KF) patients. Objectives: To identify the dietary protein sources of kidney failure patients and its association with their serum phosphorus (SP).Methods: Cross-sectional design involving 22 patients with kidney failure ≥ 18 years, recruited from the Renal and Dialysis Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Sources and amount of protein and phosphorus were determined using quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Serum phosphorus was obtained from patients’ hospital records. Correlation between dietary and serum phosphorus was determined. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 at a 95% CI at p ≤ 0.05.Results: Mean age was 46.2 ± 2.5 years. Sources of protein and phosphorus were cereals, animal protein (AP) and legumes and nuts (L&N). The highest contribution for both protein and phosphorus was from cereals (65.7% and 63.4%) respectively. There was no significant correlation between all sources of phosphorus with SP (AP r2 = 0.120, p = 0.595; L&N r2 = -0.045, p= 0.843; cereals r2 = 0.117, p = 0.604) howbeit, legumes and nuts showed a negative correlation.Conclusion; Main dietary source of both protein and phosphorus was cereals. There was no significant correlation between all sources of phosphorus with serum phosphorus levels. Appropriate medical nutrition therapy by qualified nutritionist/dietitians is recommended for this group to prevent protein energy wasting. Keywords: kidney failure, protein, phosphorous, protein energy wasting, serum phosphorous. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/12-16-04 Publication date:August 31st 202

A Comparative Study of Groups of Teachers on the Perceived Nature of Effective Teaching and Learning Science

The teacher is influential in the processes of teaching and learning science, organizing instruction to transform concepts into the understanding of students. Hence, teacher effectiveness is discussed in most educational forums as stakeholders look for more plausible ways of effective teaching and learning. As part of a large study on teachers’ conception of an effective science teacher, we studied comparative views of mentors, mentees, and supervisors on the perceived nature of effective science teachers in the processes of teaching and learning science in basic schools. In a triangulation mixed methods design, 271 mentees, 160 mentors, and 85 supervisors were selected through multistage sampling procedures to respond to Effective Science Teacher Questionnaire and Interview Schedule. The data from the questionnaires were reduced to three factors through exploratory factor analysis. The qualitative data were analyzed thematically in line with the three factors. It was revealed that there was no statistically significant difference as supervisors differed not in their perceived nature of an effective science teacher compared to that of mentors and mentees. The Ministry of Education through the Ghana Education Service should provide opportunities for the three groups of teachers to share experiences on effective teaching and learning science in basic schools

In depth analysis of kinase cross screening data to identify CaMKK2 inhibitory scaffolds

The calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CAMKK2) activates CAMK1, CAMK4, AMPK, and AKT, leading to numerous physiological responses. The deregulation of CAMKK2 is linked to several diseases, suggesting the utility of CAMKK2 inhibitors for oncological, metabolic and inflammatory indications. In this work, we demonstrate that STO‐609, frequently described as a selective inhibitor for CAMKK2, potently inhibits a significant number of other kinases. Through an analysis of literature and public databases, we have identified other potent CAMKK2 inhibitors and verified their activities in differential scanning fluorimetry and enzyme inhibition assays. These inhibitors are potential starting points for the development of selective CAMKK2 inhibitors and will lead to tools that delineate the roles of this kinase in disease biology.252CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP465651/2014-32013/50724-5; 2014/50897-0; 2019/14275-

Global Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

1. Abstract 1.1. Background: Evidence suggests that diabetes in all forms are on the rise especially gesta-tional diabetes mellitus which increases the risk of maternal and neonatal morbidities; however global prevalence rates and geographical distribution of GDM remain uncertain. The aim of this study is to examine the global burden of gestational diabetes mellitus. 1.2. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting Randomised Clinical Trials (RCTs) in pregnant women who have GDM was conducted. Cochrane (Central), PubMed, Scopus, JBI, Medline, EMBASE and reference lists of retrieved studies were searched from inception to March 2019. Publications on prevalence of GDM irrespective of the baseline criteria used to diagnose GDM were included in the study. Studies were limited to English language, randomised control trials and women aged between 19-44 years inclusive. 1.3. Results: Eleven RCTs met the inclusion criteria for this review. The included studies collectively reported GDM rates of 13,450 pregnant women from 7 countries. The diagnostic criteria used in the studies were World Health Organisation (WHO) 1985 and 1999, International Association of Diabetes, Pregnancy Study Group (IADPSG), National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG), Carpenter-Coustan (C&C) and O'Sullivan's criteria. Seven RCTs screened for GDM in comparison with different diagnostic criteria in the same population while three studies used the same criteria for different groups. One study compared 100g, 3h OGTT to 75g, 2h OGTT for diagnosing GDM using Carpenter and Coustan criteria. All seven RCTs that compared different diagnostic criteria in the same population detected different prevalence rates of GDM. Three RCTs measured prevalence of GDM in the same population using WHO 1999 and IADPSG 2013 criteria. Using random effect model, data from three studies that compared IADPSG criteria to WHO 1999 showed an Odds Ratio (OR) of 0.52(0.15, 1.84), 95% Confidence Interval (CI) and high heterogeneity of 99%. In all three studies, prevalence of GDM measured by IADPSG criteria was higher than WHO 1999 criteria, although not significant (p= 0.31). Combining all the studies gave a global estimated prevalence of GDM to be 10.13% (95% CI, 7.33-12.94) with moderate heterogeneity of 27%. The highest prevalence of GDM wit