Understanding the types of knowledge demonstrated by social work students while developing ePortfolios : case of UWC

This study seeks firstly to understand the types of ePortfolios that the learners are expected to develop as per the rubric, secondly to understand the various types of knowledge that learners demonstrate during the process of creating ePortfolios, thirdly to determine the ePortfolio activity systems of second year learners and fourthly to determine the effectiveness of the rubric in assessing the various types of knowledge demonstrated by the learners while creating their ePortfolio

Causal mechanisms that enable institutionalisation of open government data in Kenya

Open Government Data (OGD) has become a topic of prominence during the last decade. However, most governments have not realized the desired outcomes from OGD, which implies that the envisaged value streams have not been realized. This study defines three objectives that will help address this shortcoming. First, it seeks to identify the causal mechanisms that lead to effective institutionalization and sustainability of OGD initiatives in a developing country context. Second, it seeks to identify the social, economic, cultural, political structures and components that describe the OGD context. Third, it seeks to identify the underlying contextmechanism- outcome (CMO) configurations in the Kenya Open Data Initiative (KODI). The guiding philosophy for this qualitative study is critical realism, which is implemented using Pawson & Tilley's realist evaluation model. Data is obtained through observation of open data events, semi-structured interviews and documentary materials from websites and policy documents. Fereday & Muir-Cochrane's five-stage thematic analysis model is applied in conducting data analysis. Three main contributions arise from this study. The first contribution is the open data institutionalization analysis guide. This study collates several institutionalization concepts from literature with the aim of developing a lens for analyzing OGD initiatives. The second contribution is the identification of supporting mechanisms, including a description of the current CMO configurations. The resulting case study provides an in-depth account of KODI between 2011 and 2016. This will assist policy makers in understanding the current setup, identifying gaps, and establishing or supporting existing support structures and mechanisms. The third contribution is related to scarcity of empirical work based on critical realism in the field of information systems. This research will act as a reference point for future IS research, in determining how critical realism can be applied to conduct similar studies

Mechanisms that are impacting the Kenya Open Data Initiative

Open Government Data (OGD) has become a topic of prominence during the last decade. However, most governments have not realised the desired outcomes from OGD, which implies that the envisaged value streams have not been realised. In order to help address this shortcoming, this study aims at identifying the candidate causal mechanisms that are impacting on OGD initiatives. This will be achieved through the lens of critical realism. This will assist implementers of OGD to formulate policies and structures that will help ensure that the initiative is sustainable and capable of achieving the set objectives and goals. Given the inadequacy of current literature on causal mechanisms that impact on OGD initiatives, it will also contribute to the existing OGD literature, mainly through the case studies and the causal mechanisms that will emerge

Understanding the Kenya Open Data Initiative Trajectory based on Callon’s Moments of Translation

This study seeks to understand the existing interactions between actors of the Kenya Open Data Initiative (KODI), and how the actors’ interests are aligning to achieve openness and transparency of government operations. This study is based on the Callon’s moments of translation framework, which helps in describing the interaction between initiators of a network and other involved actors with the aim of aligning their diverse interests in order to achieve a common goal. KODI comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders from government, private sector, inter-governmental organisation, and civil society. KODI has faced various challenges since its inception in 2011, some of which include lack of adequate resources, reduced support from some of the stakeholders, and a shift in government buy-in into the initiative. This caused the initiative to stall for a period of almost two years between the year 2012 and 2013, which suggests a disconnect in the interests of some of the key actors at the time. A description of the strategies applied by the network initiators to resuscitate the initiative is provided. This also includes a description of how the interests of the various actors were aligned to achieve a common cause. The study is explanatory, and results in a practical contribution describing the strategies that can help in securing buy-in of an open government data initiative

Gastro-protective and anti-acidic effects of Corchorus trilocularis Linn against diclofenac-induced gastric ulcers.

Ethnopharmacological RelevanceCorchorus trilocularis Linn leaves are consumed as green leafy vegetables that are boiled and used as relish, or potherb by some rural communities in Eastern Africa for the treatment of stomach ulcers.Aim: This study investigated the gastro-protective effects of Corchorus trilocularis Linn (local name ‘mrenda’), a popularly consumed vegetable in Kenya, on diclofenac-induced gastric ulcers and established its possible mechanisms of action.Methods: In the in-vivo study, thirty six Sprague dawley rats of either sex weighing 150-200 grams were randomly assigned into a normal control (distilled water), negative control (distilled water plus diclofenac sodium), treatment (200 and 400 mg/kg Corchorus trilocularis Linn plus diclofenac sodium), positive control group (omeprazole plus diclofenac sodium), or comparison group (400 mg/kg aqueous leaf extract of spinach). The ulcer index, total acidity, volume, pH of gastric secretions, and gastric morphology were assessed. In the in-vitro anti-acidity study, a rat stomach was perfused with Kreb’s solution and the pH of the mucosal perfusate measured using a digital pH meter for 1 hour after exposure to histamine, acetylcholine, or pre-treatment with 400 mg/kg of the extract prior to addition the acid secretagogues.Results: The extract, significantly reduced the ulcer index and total acidity in comparison to the diclofenac group. The high dose extract also increased the gastric pH and had cytoprotective effects. However, it did not significantly affect the volume of gastric secretions. In the in-vitro study, the extract significantly inhibited histamine and acetylcholine stimulated gastric acid secretions as analyzed by the areas under curve for pH against time.Conclusions. The gastro-protective effects of Corchorus trilocularis Linn against diclofenac induced gastric ulcers are; therefore, mediated through preservation of the gastric mucosal barrier, increase in gastric pH, and inhibition of gastric acid secretion through the histamine H2 and acetylcholine M3 extracellular pathways on the parietal cell

The Fairwork Foundation: Strategies for Improving Platform Work

This paper introduces the Fairwork Foundation, a research initiative that is also developing an intervention around the quality of work on digital labour platforms. Lacking the ability to collectively bargain, many of these workers have little ability to negotiate wages or working conditions with their employers who are often on the other side of the world. As a result of this new global market for work, many workers have jobs characterized by long and irregular hours, low income, and high stress. Across India and South Africa, there are challenges for workers across a range of issues, including: pay, conditions, contracts, management, and representation. The results of the fieldwork are being used to rank and compare platforms as part of the ongoing ‘work in progress’ of the Fairwork project, a research initiative that is developing an intervention to improve the quality of work on digital platforms

The antispasmodic effect of aqueous root bark extract of Carissa edulis (Forssk.) Vahl on isolated rabbit jejunum is mediated through blockade of calcium channels

BackgroundSpasms of the gut underlie hyperactive gut disorders. These conditions are highly prevalent and impart greater health care cost. Herbal antispasmodic remedies form a source of affordable, safe and easily available treatments in low resource areas. There is, therefore, a need to scientifically evaluate the therapeutic potential of these remedies. This study investigated the antispasmodic effect of aqueous root bark extract of Carissa edulis, herb used to manage hyperactive gut disorders such as abdominal colic and diarrhea.Materials and methodsPieces of jejunum were isolated from adult New Zealand White rabbits. They were mounted in an organ bath containing Tyrode’s solution. The rate and force of contraction were recorded using Powerlab coupled to Chart5 Software. The effects of the extract (0.1-10.0 mg/ml) on spontaneous jejunal contraction were investigated. The effect of 1.0 and 3.0 mg/ml extract was investigated on acetylcholine, KCl and CaCl2 induced contraction.ResultsCarissa edulis extract dose-dependently (0.1-10 mg/ml) significantly decreased the force but not the rate of spontaneous jejunal contraction. Extract (1 and 3 mg/) significantly decreased the magnitude of acetylcholine, KCl and CaCl2 induced contraction.Conclusions Aqueous root bark extracts of Carissa edulis possess a significant antispasmodic effect on rabbit jejunum. This appears to be through calcium channel blockade. These results validate its use as a remedy for hyperactive gut disorders.Â

Systematic evaluation of gig work against decent work standards: The development and application of the Fairwork framework

Growth of gig work – short-term tasks organized and mediated by digital labor platforms such as Uber and Upwork – is the focus for an increasing body of research. Yet there has been a lack of systematic frameworks that could evaluate this type of labor against decent work standards, and inform consumers and others about relative adherence to those standards across platforms and sectors. In this article we report the development of the “Fairwork framework”, based on five decent work principles of fair pay, conditions, contracts, management, and representation. The framework and its associated methodology were first field-tested in South Africa and we report on its use to rate seven gig economy platforms. A league table of platforms was widely publicized and one platform was persuaded to improve working conditions. We reflect on the use and content of the framework, and its role in future action research on decent gig work