Confronting Anti-Muslim Racism and Islamism: An Intersectional Perspective on Muslim Women’s Activism in Germany

This article explores how Muslim women’s activism unfolds in the context of anti-Muslim racism and Islamism in contemporary Germany. In particular, it identifies both gendered forms of anti-Muslim racism and Islamism encountered by Muslim women’s organizations and ways they respond to it. Drawing on theories of intersectionality and boundary making, this study identifies the most common strategies used to confront anti-Muslim racism and Islamism and their implications for intersectional boundary making. For this purpose, six expert interviews with representatives of major Muslim women’s organizations were conducted and supplemented by data from internet research and participatory observation. Based on a Grounded Theory-inspired approach, the findings show that the responses of Muslim women’s organizations to anti-Muslim racism and Islamism reconfigure group boundaries. They create more inclusive spaces in which boundary formations by religion, race, and ethnicity and gender are transcended.Peer Reviewe

Understanding teachers’ construction of transgender identity: perspectives from primary school teachers in Amanzimtoti within KwaZulu- Natal.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.A dearth of research of primary school teachers’ knowledge of transgender people in South African education led to this research. The experiences of transgender people in South African society are not well documented although evidence of inequalities based on sexual orientation exist. The research design involved individual interviews (using a photo elicitation method) with teachers in a working-class suburban context. Two research questions underpinned the study. Firstly, the study sought to examine the meanings that primary school teachers make of transgender identities and secondly, the processes through which such perceptions and understandings were made. Data analysis was influenced by thematic analysis which structured the research findings. The findings from the data analysis displayed the intersection of primary school teachers’ construction of gender identities with that of the gender binary, compulsory heteronormativity, age, and power dynamics in relation to sex, sexuality, culture, and religion. The research findings indicated limited knowledge of the term transgender as well as the meaning that individuals who identify as such attach to it. Further, teachers viewed sex and gender as one and the same, attributing this notion to male-female differences, thus further perpetuating the outdated theory of essentialism and naturalism. Coupled with the failure of the national sex and sexuality curriculum (Life Orientation and Life Skills) and teachers’ reluctance to effectively teach learners about sex, gender, and sexuality education, tended to create a schooling culture that was intolerant and harmful to learners who were gender non-conforming. The dissertation concludes with recommendations aimed at addressing transgender in South African schools through processes and interventions that ensure that teachers and learners, obtain greater understanding and acceptance of transgender learners and individuals. This can promote an inclusive and more all-encompassing learning environment and school culture that is accepting, tolerant, and non-discriminatory towards learners based on their gender and sexuality

Using CIRUPA to Help Foster Communication with Families about Brain Death in Sub‑Saharan Africa

Brain death, with a functioning cardiovascular system, remains a difficult issue to grasp for most families. Furthermore, conversations about brain death remain challenging even for the most experienced physicians. We developed an acronym, CIRUPA, to further improve the goals of care conversations in patients diagnosed with brain death. To our knowledge, this is the first acronym within Sub‑Saharan Africa, which helps provide a structured method on how to foster conversations centered around brain death

Reengineering of Information and Communication Technology Services (A need of Society)

This paper examines the issues and problems arising from the telecommunication and media industry services. It is crystal clear that technology and its out put must be for the welfare and benefit of peoples, yet there are some social and ethical issues, generated by the irresponsible and dishonest role of Telecommunication and Media services provider, and by the consumer misuse. The research focuses various variables regarding the issues of these services. The research was carried out through questionnaire survey technique and the date was analyzed through SPSS software. This study suggests that rigid and implementable regulation is needed for the proper and beneficial re-engineering of these services. Key Words: Re-Engineering (RE), Ethical Issues (EI), Social Issues (SI) and Regulations (R

A 10 year retrospective study of the National Rehabilitation Centre Abu Dhabi: Trends, population characteristics, associations and predictors of treatment outcomes

Data extracted from case notes of all NRC patients from February 2002 to August 2011were analyzed to obtain a descriptive profile and changes in trends during this period. The data were extracted manually using a template and entered into a spreadsheet for analysis. During the period under consideration only male patients were admitted to the NRC. Data were available on 591 patients to be included in the study. The results showed that the average age of the patients was 32.4 years, 42% were married, 44% were single and 13% were divorced. A very high percentage, 60%, was unemployed and 32% were employed or were students. Fifty-one percent% had not completed their secondary education, 33% had completed secondary education and 16% had post-secondary education. The main substance of abuse was alcohol (41%), followed by heroin (16%), marijuana (11%), Benzodiazepines (6%), inhalants (2%), amphetamines (2%). Other substances (20%) included prescription drugs, including. Painkillers such as Tramadol, Methadone, and codeine, sedatives such as Xanax and Valium, and substances such as Kemadrine, Artane and Khat amounted to 20%. Fifteen-percent of all patients tested positive for Hepatitis C, 2% positive for Hepatitis B and there we no reports of HIV. The presence of co-morbid psychiatric illnesses ranged from 9% to 25% depending on the substance of abuse. The changes in trends in the main drugs of abuse as well as other analysis of patterns of use are reported. Comparisons of the findings with other studies in the region, implications of the findings, the limitations of the study, as well as areas for future research are discussed

Synthesis of BaTiO3-CoFe2O4 nanocomposites using a one-pot technique

Abstract Low-cost and scalable sol–gel chemistry was employed to obtain ferroelectric-ferrimagnetic BaTiO3-CoFe2O4 nanocomposites. In a novel one-pot synthesis method, both the constituent phases of nanocomposites are formed during the same time and symbiotically participate to each other's growth. X-ray powder diffraction evidences the phase purity of the systems, with average crystallite sizes in the order of 20 nm for the BaTiO3 phase. The optimization of the synthesis conditions, precursors, and chemical agents for nanoscale BaTiO3 and BaTiO3-CoFe2O4 nanocomposites is presented, together with the magnetic and/or dielectric properties of the obtained materials. BaTiO3-CoFe2O4 nanocomposites with up to 20% CoFe2O4 volume fractions were found to display ferrimagnetic properties at room temperature akin to those of CoFe2O4, while preserving a dielectric behavior reminiscent of BaTiO3. Preliminary results describing the spin coating of BaTiO3 and BaTiO3-CoFe2O4 nanocomposites as thin films are also reported

A study on the efficacy of Karanja Pratisaraneeya Kshara in the management of Arshas w.s.r. to Internal Haemorrhoids

Arshas is by far the most common ano-rectal disease that comes across in the out-patient departments. Despite having various treatment modalities in case of Arshas, even today many lacunas are still existing. To overcome the lacunas, this study namely “A study on the efficacy of Karanja Pratisaraneeya Kshara in the management of Arshas” has been taken up. To evaluate the efficacy of Karanja Pratisaraneeya Kshara, another group comprising of Apamarga Pratisaraneeya Kshara, an established study was taken up. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted within the facilities available in the OPD and IPD of S.J.I.I.M. Hospital, Bengaluru. 40 cases of Abhyantara Arshas were selected from the OPD and IPD of the aforesaid institution and randomly assigned into two groups namely A and B. Subjects under Group A were treated with Karanja Pratisaraneeya Kshara, while subjects under Group B were treated by Apamarga Pratisaraneeya Kshara. Results: The treatment modalities of Karanja Pratisaraneeya Kshara and Apamarga Pratisaraneeya Kshara are equally efficacious in treating Arshas. Clinically there is no difference in the overall effect between the two groups but in minimizing the pain, bleeding per rectum and regression of pile mass after Kshara Karma was found earlier in Apamarga Teekshna Pratisaraneeya Kshara compared to Karanja Teekshna Pratisaraneeya Kshara. Conclusion: The study showed that group A and group B are equally effective

A retrospective analytical study of treatment outcomes among multi drug resistant tuberculosis patients

Background: India is amongst one of the high multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) burden countries globally with a huge contribution given by the state of Uttar Pradesh. Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis, initiated in 2007 has taken over the disorganized and unsupervised treatment practice in India. However, regular scrutiny is required which points out both its success and failure. Aim & Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate final treatment outcomes among MDR-TB patients on standard Category IV regimen Settings and Design: Retrospective analysis was done using secondary data from medical records of all patients. Methods and Material: Data of all MDR-TB patients registered under RNTCP at King George’s Medical University, Lucknow from 2013 to 2016 was collected. Demographic details along with pre-defined treatment outcomes were recorded (cured, treatment completed, death, treatment failure, treatment default and transfer to higher centre). Statistical analysis used: Descriptive statistics using numbers and percentage. Results: The records of 3580 MDR tuberculosis patients registered at drug resistant tuberculosis centre in King George’s Medical University from January 2013 to December 2016 were included which consisted of 67%males and 33%female. Mean age of presentation was 31.17 years (95% CI 30.75-31.59). Mean weight of patients was 40.16 kg (95% CI 39.89-40.43). Year wise distribution of registered cases from 2013 to 2016 was 611, 799, 984 and 1186 patients respectively. Amongst 3580 patients, 30.39% were declared cured, 25.50% completed treatment, 21.39% died, 0.84% showed treatment failure, 12.54% were defaulters, 2.35% were transferred out to higher centre, 6.5% were shifted to regimen for Extensive drug resistant (EDR) TB, 0.16% patients needed to stop treatment due to ADR and 0.33% patient were still on treatment. Conclusion: The treatment success rate of MDR?TB patients is still low. Measures to improve treatment adherence as in National tuberculosis elimination programme (NTEP) attempts to further improve the success rate

How the loss in academics and research occurs by stopping animal experimentation in medical curriculum

Use of animals in experimentation and research has always been a topic of great debate. Some express their strong support while others are against animal research practices and want their complete abolition.1 At present, there is a pill for every ill. Rapid advancement in the field of science and technology contributed in discovering cure and medications even for the rarest of the rare diseases. Most of the present day discoveries in medical science lay their foundation on animal experimentation. The use of drugs in clinical practice have been possible only after going through successful animal studies for safety, efficacy and toxicity