Visible Muslims in a non-Muslim World: Muslim Girls\u27 Experiences in Canadian Public High Schools

Through an analysis of the hijab as a marker, this study focuses on the constructions of Muslim girls\u27 identity. Ten Muslim girls who wear a hijab and attend public high schools in Windsor, Ontario were provided with a venue to express their perceptions of educational experiences in the Canadian education system. The results of this study challenge the literature that emphasizes the negative experiences and external obstacles that seemingly hinder Muslims from practicing and expressing their Muslim identity in a non-Muslim society. Although participants noted incidents of discrimination and negative stereotyping as problematic issues, they viewed their overall education as positive as a result of wearing the hijab; validating that their Muslim identity helped them perceive education as an overall pleasant experience. This study concludes by offering suggestions for policy reforms in education with regards to inclusive education and accommodation for Muslim students

Cardiac sarcoma presenting with abdominal pain and mimicking myxoma on echocardiogram

Cardiac sarcoma’s are highly aggressive tumours. Clear resection margins ± autotransplant, followed by chemotherapy, offers the best survival chance. Therefore, frozen section should be preformed when there is ambiguity in diagnosis

Cross-cultural medical education: Using narratives to reflect on experience

Introduction. Educating students in a multi-cultural society is a challenge as teachers, students and the community they serve all tend to representvarious social groups. Skills alone are not adequate for competency in understanding cultural aspects of consultations. A combination of knowledge, skills and attitude is the most widely accepted current approach to teaching culturally competent communication to medical students. Collaborative reflection on narratives of experienced clinicians’ cultural encounters served to construct an understanding of how to develop these attributes.Process. An interest group of medical teachers met to address the specific needs of teaching a relevant cross-cultural curriculum. Participants offerednarratives from their professional life and reflected on these encounters to understand how to improve the current curriculum to better address theneeds of the students and patients they serve.Results. Through narratives, participants were able to reflect on how their experience had allowed them to develop cultural awareness. All storiesrepresented how attitudes of respect, curiosity and unconditional positive regard were held above all else. The process of collaborative reflection withpeers unpacked the complexity and potential in the stories and different learning opportunities were discovered. Learning was personalised becausethe stories were based on real experiences.Conclusion. The use of collaborative reflection on narratives of clinical encounters could facilitate insights about cultural aspects of medical practice. Elements such as curiosity, respect and unconditional positive regard are illustrated in a unique way that allows students to appreciate the real-life aspects of cross-cultural clinical encounters

Microorganisms Associated with Mars-Bound Spacecraft: Preservation, Identification, Characterization

The Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group (BPPG) at the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) focuses on avoiding forward and backward contamination between Earth and extraterrestrial bodies, ensuring that planetary bodies can be studied in their natural state in the future. This endeavor involves sampling organisms from Mars bound spacecraft during assembly, testing, and launch operations, archiving the organisms for long-term storage, and identifying the organisms through MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time of flight) mass spectrometry. Because the MALDI-TOF database is primarily composed of clinical samples, it is necessary to continuously update the database with isolates collected from Marsbound spacecraft to make future identification efforts at BPPG easier. During this internship, efforts were made to continue updating the in-house MALDI-TOF database by studying microbial samples taken from spacecraft hardware and flight facilities. In addition, novel organisms from spacecraft required further biochemical and taxonomical identification, 16S rRNA sequencing, and addition of new spectral profiles to the MALDI database. These efforts culminated in a more comprehensive JPL in-house database, the characterization of several novel organisms, and the proper identification and storage of numerous microbial samples in accordance to BPPG standards

Exploring Perceptions of Customer Value: The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives in the European Telecommunications Industry

Purpose - This paper develops a framework that describes and explains how corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives are perceived by customers and links customer perception to the notion of customer value perception. In order to explore customer value conception firstly, the perception of CSR initiatives is investigated; secondly, indications for the value enhancing effects of CSR initiatives are studied, and finally, the varying effects which different value categories can have on customer attitudes and behaviour are extracted. Design/methodology/approach - The data consists of twelve semi-structured interviews with customers of European telecommunication companies. Findings - The results suggest that CSR initiatives, when communicated efficiently and considered as relevant by customers, will in the main enhance two customer value categories: (1) the extrinsic self-oriented value defined as efficiency and excellence and (2) the intrinsic other-oriented value pertaining to ethics or spirituality. Enhancement of extrinsic selforiented value imbeds the potential of CSR initiatives to affect customers’ purchase behaviour and thus strengthen ethical consumerism within the telecommunications industry. Research limitations/implications – The main implication for research is a better understanding of the relationship between customer perception and customer value perception in the field of ethical consumerism. Focusing on one industry for the study can be named as a limitation. Practical implications – As indicated by the research results by customers prioritised CSR initiative can affect the customer value perception, mainly the extrinsic/self-oriented value. If the company is aiming to change customer behaviour and to strengthen ethical consumerism, it is important that the customer experience of CSR initiatives improve excellence (quality) and/or efficiency of the product/service. Originality/value – This paper fulfils an identified need of research on how CSR initiatives can influence consumer behaviour

Oxide Film Growth on Copper in Neutral Aqueous Solutions

The copper electrode potentials measured by the open circuit potential method in strongly aerated solutions of SO4-2, Cl-, Br-, I-, CrO4-2, CO3-2, and NO2- with difference concentrations, till steady state values are attained. The copper electrode potentials of the all experiments increase from negative to more positive values indicating oxide film growth. The copper oxide film thickness attains maximum value at low and high concentrations of each aggressive and inhibitive anions respectively. The rate of oxide film thickening is determined by use the relation: E = a + b log t, where a and b are constants. The concentration of the inhibitive anions, CrO4-2, CO3-2, and NO2- that can withstand a certain concentration of the aggressive ions, , Cl-, Br-, and I-, varies due to the relation: logC inh. = A + n logC agg., where A and n are constants. The all experiments were investigated at 25oC in all electrolytes. Keywords: Copper; oxide growth; passivity; open circuit potential