Cameroonian Immigrants Switching From Non-Stem To Stem-And-Related Fields In The United States

Recent studies on STEM education in the United States (U.S.) have largely focused on such issues as the ever increasing need for more STEM workers, STEM attrition/retention, the gender gap in STEM, encouraging more STEM enrollment both at college and post-graduate levels, and the use of modern technology to facilitate STEM education. Other studies have considered the impact of immigrants on STEM education in the U.S. and on the U.S. economy in terms of either creating or filling STEM jobs. Many of those studies underscore the importance of immigrants in boosting the high skilled, much needed, STEM labor force and thereby increasing the global competitiveness of the U.S. Despite a large volume of STEM-related research in the U.S., minimal research has focused on immigrants who enter the U.S. without prior STEM backgrounds and choose STEM or related majors while in the U.S. In particular, no prior study has considered Cameroonian immigrants with non-STEM majors and who switch into STEM or related fields upon arrival in the U.S. Such studies could unveil key factors that serve as strong motivators for STEM enrollment. To fill this gap, the present study investigated why Cameroonian immigrants who came into the U.S. without a prior STEM background switched into STEM or related fields while in the U.S. The study involved 8 Cameroonian immigrants who were majoring in either a STEM or related field who came into the U.S. without a prior STEM background. Data was obtained through in-depth, semi-structured, face-to-face, individual participant interviews. Participants attributed their failure to major in STEM while in Cameroon to the following: stereotypes, limited financial and other resources, negative influence from teachers, peers, relatives, and others, and the impact of non-STEM role models. Participants attributed their choice to switch into STEM or related fields while in the U.S. to job discrimination within non-STEM fields, ease of employment within STEM, and the impact of friends and others who directly encouraged them to switch. In comparing STEM education in Cameroon and the U.S., participants felt the U.S. offered many advantages such as increased flexibility, teacher accessibility, and financial and other resources. It was found that although participants had faced challenges upon switching into STEM in the U.S., their determination/resilience had led them to overcome those challenges and persist in their new majors. Overall, gender differences were insignificant in the decision to switch to a STEM or related major in the present study

Taxation Policies and Its Effect on the Growth of Small &Medium Size Enterprises in Cameroon in the Midst of the Ongoing Sociopolitical Crisis

Tax policies have a great role to play on the growth of small and medium size enterprises in developing countries and Cameroon in particular. The objective of this paper is aimed at assessing the effect of tax policies on the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in Bamenda Municipality, Northwest Region of Cameroon. Data for this study was collected with the help of questionnaires. A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed to owners of small and medium-sized enterprises in Bamenda municipality, Northwest Region of Cameroon. The data collected was analyzed with the use of SPSS for descriptive statistics, OLS regression and ANOVA. The results reveals that tax policies, including value added tax (VAT), income tax, and excise tax, have a significant impact on the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Bamenda. The findings indicate that a unit increase in VAT corresponds to a 0.513 increase in the growth of SMEs, while the impact of income tax is relatively weaker with a 0.082 increase. Similarly, excise tax shows a moderate impact on the growth of SME with a 0.378 increase. Based on the findings, it was recommended that policymakers should carefully evaluate the VAT rates and consider implementing measures that promote a favorable business environment. This may involve reducing VAT rates for SMEs or introducing incentives and exemptions to alleviate the tax burden on these enterprises. Such measures can help stimulate economic activity and encourage SMEs to expand their operations. Keywords: Value added tax, income tax, excise tax, performance , Small and Medium size enterprise DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/14-14-03 Publication date:July 31st 202

Role of host-derived ADAM-9 in tumor invasion and metastasis of malignant melanoma

A Disintegrin And Metalloproteases (ADAMs) represents a family of transmembrane proteins with a distinct multidomain structure including a metalloprotease, disintegrin, and cysteine-rich domain. These proteins function in adhesion, regulation of cell signaling by proteolysis of cell surface proteins and their receptors. ADAM-9 is a protease that cleaves membrane-bound proteins such as VCAM-1, TNF-α, as well as extracellular matrix proteins like fibronectin and laminin-111. ADAM-9 also contains adhesive domains that are involved in cell adhesion and migration. In human and murine melanoma, ADAM-9 is expressed by both tumor and stroma cells at the tumor-stroma border. The significance of this expression is however not clear. To explore the functional role of ADAM-9 produced by the host in melanoma progression, B16F1 murine melanoma cells were injected in the flank of Adam-9-/- and wild type animals. Tumors developed in Adam-9-/- mice were significantly larger compared to wild type animals and displayed significant increase in tumor cell proliferation accompanied by decrease in apoptosis. Using co-culture systems of primary fibroblasts and B16F1 melanoma cells, we could detect increased melanoma cell proliferation when cultured in the presence of supernatants from Adam-9-/- but not wild type fibroblasts. Among the proteins secreted in strongly enhanced amounts from Adam-9-/- fibroblasts, was tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1). Neutralization of TIMP-1 in Adam-9-/- fibroblasts supernatant using specific antibodies abolished the induced B16F1 proliferation. Besides TIMP-1, soluble TNF-α and TNFR1 were also up-regulated in Adam-9-/- fibroblasts supernatants. Using various in vitro approaches, we could demonstrate that neutralization of TNF-α in Adam-9-/- fibroblast resulted in reduced B16F1 cell apoptosis. In addition, by RNA and proteomic analysis, we found altered expression of extracellular matrix proteins at the tumor-stroma border of tumors from Adam-9-/- animals compared to wild type, which likely contributes to the melanoma phenotype observed in Adam-9-/- animals. Interestingly, we identified collagen type I as a new substrate of ADAM-9. In summary, our results indicate that loss of ADAM-9 in stromal fibroblasts results in altered release of soluble factors, which in turn affect melanoma cell proliferation and apoptosis

Alternative vehicle electronic architecture for individual wheel control

Electronic control systems have become an integral part of the modern vehicle and their installation rate is still on a sharp rise. Their application areas range from powertrain, chassis and body control to entertainment. Each system is conventionally control led by a centralised controller with hard-wired links to sensors and actuators. As systems have become more complex, a rise in the number of system components and amount of wiring harness has followed. This leads to serious problems on safety, reliability and space limitation. Different networking and vehicle electronic architectures have been developed by others to ease these problems. The thesis proposes an alternative architecture namely Distributed Wheel Architecture, for its potential benefits in terms of vehicle dynamics, safety and ease of functional addition. The architecture would have a networked controller on each wheel to perform its dynamic control including braking, suspension and steering. The project involves conducting a preliminary study and comparing the proposed architecture with four alternative existing or high potential architectures. The areas of study are functionality, complexity, and reliability. Existing ABS, active suspension and four wheel steering systems are evaluated in this work by simulation of their operations using road test data. They are used as exemplary systems, for modelling of the new electronic architecture together with the four alternatives. A prediction technique is developed, based on the derivation of software pseudo code from system specifications, to estimate the microcontroller specifications of all the system ECUs. The estimate indicates the feasibility of implementing the architectures using current microcontrollers. Message transfer on the Controller Area Network (CAN) of each architecture is simulated to find its associated delays, and hence the feasibility of installing CAN in the architectures. Architecture component costs are estimated from the costs of wires, ECUs, sensors and actuators. The number of wires is obtained from the wiring models derived from exemplary system data. ECU peripheral component counts are estimated from their statistical plot against the number of ECU pins of collected ECUs. Architecture component reliability is estimated based on two established reliability handbooks. The results suggest that all of the five architectures could be implemented using present microcontrollers. In addition, critical data transfer via CAN is made within time limits under current levels of message load, indicating the possibility of installing CAN in these architectures. The proposed architecture is expected to· be costlier in terms of components than the rest of the architectures, while it is among the leaders for wiring weight saving. However, it is expected to suffer from a relatively higher probability of system component failure. The proposed architecture is found not economically viable at present, but shows potential in reducing vehicle wire and weight problems

Think Big Start Small: Institutional Repositories: Policies, Strategies, Technological Options, Standards and Best Practices. The Case of the University of Buea

In order to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by half the number of people living in hunger and poverty and stimulating economic growth to enhance rural household economies, the stakeholders involved need to provide access to resources and technology as well as effective information services. Information and knowledge are fundamental for education and development as well as essential requirements to improve the quality of life for people living in regions where the population has not reached a high level of economic and social development. Libraries play an important role in this educational and research process. For strengthening educational capacity and building up research capacity, access to relevant information is of great importance. In this paper an initiative at a university in Cameroon is described. The purpose of this paper is to give insight into the challenges most African universities face in developing their institutional repositories. The aim is to investigate how evolving digital technologies could be integrated into the libraries of these African universities. In the light of existing realities in most African countries, the creation of an enabling institutional environment for information repositories to blossom is of prime importance. Information repositories often stand low on the scale of priorities and this can be attributed to the laxity in national and institutional regulation and policies. How therefore do we get to run an institutional repository when the platform for information resources (the library) is not a priority for policy makers and for the institutions themselves

Model evaluation of target product profiles of an infant vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in a developed country setting

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory tract disease in children worldwide and is a significant cause of hospital admissions in young children in England. No RSV vaccine has been licensed but a number are under development. In this work, we present two structurally distinct mathematical models, parameterized using RSV data from the UK, which have been used to explore the effect of introducing an RSV paediatric vaccine to the National programme. We have explored different vaccine properties, and dosing regimens combined with a range of implementation strategies for RSV control. The results suggest that vaccine properties that confer indirect protection have the greatest effect in reducing the burden of disease in children under 5 years. The findings are reinforced by the concurrence of predictions from the two models with very different epidemiological structure. The approach described has general application in evaluating vaccine target product profiles

Formulation of Functional Yogurt by Cofermentation of Milk and Papaya Fruit

This study was carried out to determine the potential of adding Fresh skinned papaya pulp (FSP) into yoghurt for the improvement of the functional properties of yoghurt and the resulting effects of adding PPF on the physicochemical and sensory properties of the product during a 30 days’ storage period at 6°C. Yoghurt samples A (Control), B, C, D and E were respectively produced at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of milk incorporated with papaya fruit. Incorporation of PPF into the yogurt samples resulted in an increase in pH, proteins and carbohydrates and a reduction in titratable acidity as compared to the control. The microbial analysis showed no presence of coliform bacteria. The sensory evaluation result demonstrated significant differences in all the organoleptic attributes analyzed. Sample C with 10% incorporated papaya had the highest overall acceptability score

Early motherhood: A qualitative study exploring the experiences of African Australian teenage mothers in greater Melbourne, Australia

BACKGROUND: Motherhood is a significant and important aspect of life for many women around the globe. For women in communities where motherhood is highly desired, motherhood is considered crucial to the woman's identity. Teenage motherhood, occurring at a critical developmental stage of teenagers' lives, has been identified as having adverse social and health consequences. This research aimed to solicit the lived experiences of African Australian young refugee women who have experienced early motherhood in Australia. METHODS: This qualitative research used in-depth interviews. The research methods and analysis were informed by intersectionality theory, phenomenology and a cultural competency framework. Sixteen African born refugee young women who had experienced teenage pregnancy and early motherhood in Greater Melbourne, Australia took part in this research. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and data analysed using thematic content analysis. Ethics approval for this research was granted by Victoria University Human Research Ethics committee. RESULTS: Motherhood brings increased responsibilities, social recognition, and a sense of purpose for young mothers. Despite the positive aspects of motherhood, participants faced challenges that affected their lives. Most often, the challenges included coping with increased responsibilities following the birth of the baby, managing the competing demands of schooling, work and taking care of a baby in a site of settlement. The young mothers indicated they received good support from their mothers, siblings and close friends, but rarely from the father of their baby and the wider community. Participants felt that teenage mothers are frowned upon by their wider ethnic communities, which left them with feelings of shame and embarrassment, despite the personal perceived benefits of achieving motherhood. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that service providers and policy makers support the role of the young mothers' own mother, sisters, their grandmothers and aunts following early motherhood. Such support from significant females will help facilitate young mothers' re-engagement with education, work and other aspects of life. For young migrant mothers, this is particularly important in order to facilitate settlement in a new country and reduce the risk of subsequent mistimed pregnancies. Service providers need to expand their knowledge and awareness of the specific needs of refugee teen mothers living in 'new settings'

An exploration of the experiences of select women informal traders in the City of Cape Town

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.This study focuses on what has changed and what has remained the same for women in post 1994 South Africa as far as women informal traders in the City of Cape Town (CBD) are concerned. The study shows that despite Legislative and Constitutional changes at the practical level women remain economically and socially disenfranchised

An exploratory study of experiences of parenting among female students at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa

Magister Philosophiae - MPhilAdvancement in education has ensured that there is parity in terms of enrolment for both females and males at tertiary institutions. However, women students continue to face challenges to advancing in education. Given that South African society remains highly gendered and that universities are historically male-dominated sites that do not necessarily cater for the particular needs of women (or children), one area of challenge may relate to having to balance parenting roles with the demands of being a student. For example, at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), students with children are prohibited from access to the residences, leaving them with no option but to seek alternative accommodation, where they can remain with their babies or look for childcare support from their relatives. While there is a growing body of work on the experiences of school-going pregnant and parenting learners, there is little work in the South African context of the experiences of women who are both parents and students at tertiary institutions. Since the national education system clearly supports and encourages life-long learning, an investigation into the conditions and experiences of learning for parenting students is important. The focus on women students was motivated by existing findings that show how normative gender roles persist and that women continue to be viewed as the primary nurturers with respect to the care of children. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of motherhood among young female students at UWC. The study was situated within a feminist social constructionist framework and a feminist qualitative methodology was employed. Two or more interviews were conducted with a group of eight participants, selected by convenient sampling, and aged between 18 and 30 years, each with a child or children under the age of five years. Interviews were conducted at the participants choice of location and at a time that was convenient to them. All interviews were audio-recorded and the tapes were kept safely in the researchers home. All standard ethical procedures for research with human subjects were followed. Data was transcribed verbatim and a qualitative thematic analysis was conducted. Key themes were elucidated and data presented thematically. The key challenges cited included time management, self motivation and the social demands of being a mother. These tend to have adverse repercussions on academic excellence. The analysis revealed that though the young women are allowed to return to universities after becoming mothers, they face many challenges in trying to balance motherhood and the demands of schooling. Furthermore, the findings highlight the tension and ambivalence experienced by participants as they negotiate the social and cultural expectations of motherhood and their personal reality, in meeting the demands of motherhood as student mothers. In their struggle to meet the social and cultural expectations of motherhood, they placed tremendous emotional and physical stress upon themselves which manifested as guilt, physical exhaustion, psychological stress, physical illness and the desire to leave studies notwithstanding the value they attached to it. Although the participants challenged these expectations in various ways, the underlying nuances when they recounted their experiences, remain embedded in these societal and cultural expectations. However, in voicing their experiences, it was clear that they were not always simply accepting the status quo but at times challenging it, and thereby deconstructing the myths of motherhood that are so salient in current social and cultural contexts. The study also found that student mothers at UWC, at least on the basis of this small sample - do not appear to receive sufficient support on campus (physically, materially and emotionally). The study concludes that this group of student mothers face serious challenges as mothers and students and, further, that these challenges are exacerbated by the continued social expectations of women to be perfect mothers which, together with the material gender inequalities in sharing parenting care, could impede effective academic studies. The study recommends that universities play a stronger role in alleviating the challenges for such students. In addition, it recommends that more research be conducted in the area, possibly longitudinal studies, as well as studies that may be more generalisable.South Afric