Dynamics And Control Of Foot-And-Mouth Disease In Endemic Countries: A Pair Approximation Model

The final publication is available at Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2014.05.010 © 2014. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Previous mathematical models of spatial farm-to-farm transmission of foot and mouth disease (FMD) have explored the impacts of control measures such as culling and vaccination during a single outbreak in a country normally free of FMD. As a result, these models do not include factors that are relevant to countries where FMD is endemic in some regions, like long-term waning natural and vaccine immunity, use of prophylactic vaccination and disease re-importations. These factors may have implications for disease dynamics and control, yet few models have been developed for FMD-endemic settings. Here we develop and study an SEIRV (susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered-vaccinated) pair approximation model of FMD. We focus on long term dynamics by exploring characteristics of repeated outbreaks of FMD and their dependence on disease re-importation, loss of natural immunity, and vaccine waning. We find that the effectiveness of ring and prophylactic vaccination strongly depends on duration of natural immunity, rate of vaccine waning, and disease re-introduction rate. However, the number and magnitude of FMD outbreaks are generally more sensitive to the duration of natural immunity than the duration of vaccine immunity. If loss of natural immunity and/or vaccine waning happen rapidly, then multiple epidemic outbreaks result, making it difficult to eliminate the disease. Prophylactic vaccination is more effective than ring vaccination, at the same per capita vaccination rate. Finally, more frequent disease re-importation causes a higher cumulative number of infections, although a lower average epidemic peak. Our analysis demonstrates significant differences between dynamics in FMD-free settings versus FMD-endemic settings, and that dynamics in FMD-endemic settings can vary widely depending on factors such as the duration of natural and vaccine immunity and the rate of disease re-importations. We conclude that more mathematical models tailored to FMD-endemic countries should be developed that include these factors

Losing My Religion: Young Adults and the Impact and Implications of Secularism on Their Religion

Young adults in North America are less religious and consider themselves unaffiliated with organized religion. There is a stark difference between Millennials and Baby Boomers within the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church when it comes to religious beliefs, behavior, and affiliation. The older generation is holding on to religious beliefs while Millennials slowly and quietly drift away from the church and religious ideology. As Millennials move away from religious institutions and take on more secular ideology, it would appear that there are specific reasons for the mass exodus of young adults from church. This paper seeks to discuss the challenges facing the church as Millennials lose religion, disaffiliate, and become more secular

Neither Jew nor Greek: Ethnocentrism vs. Interculturalism and the Future of the Adventist Church

The Adventist Church is one of the most ethnically diverse churches within North America, but with its continued diversity explosion, many churches are segregated by racial lines and ethnicity. With the rise of immigration, what will the future of the Adventist church in North America look like? Will new ethnic immigrants assimilate into white churches? Will Seventh-day Adventist churches eventually become ethnic enclaves that continue to create racialized silos? Is the Adventist church becoming more ethnocentric? How do we foster more intercultural churches

Hanging Out on the Block(chain): Decentralized Autonomous Organizations for Small Groups and Faith Communities

T he future of organizations is changing from a top-down leadership model to a shared autonomous approach. Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) will revolutionize governance structures, groups, and organizations of any kind. In what way could this influence and improve churches and ministries within those churches such as small groups? This paper explores the impact that Blockchain Technology, cryptocurrency and DAOs can have on small groups and faith communities

A Cosmopolitan Theology for Creating an Urban Missional Small Group to Reach Postmodern Generations in the City of Lacombe, Alberta

Problem Many youths within the Canadian city of Lacombe, Alberta, are having difficulty finding traditional church attractive, engaging, relevant, and meaningful. Because of the prevalent postmodern mindset of youth in the community, thoughts toward church, religious gatherings, and organized religion are pessimistic and skeptical. Research has pointed out that faith-based community initiatives have been either lacking or ineffective in addressing the disengagement and disillusionment being demonstrated by postmodern millennials. Method The purpose of this study was to see if an urban missional small group made up of 10 to 15 youth would have a positive social spiritual impact on their personal lives. The focus was to bring postmodern youth together for a period of 12 weeks to create an urban missional small group intended to foster a sense of community and belonging. It was to employ open dialogue but also allow for discourse and debate, and it was to facilitate individual and collective spiritual development and growth. The dialogue would center on studying and reflecting on the life of Christ; however, the dialogue would also remain open to natural discussion points and personal sharing as raised by the participants. Results The results were reviewed and evaluated by conducting entry and exit surveys. The results of the survey evidenced that implementing a 12-week urban missional small group in an urban city had a substantial spiritual impact on the group participants. The key six areas evaluated were (a) personal life, (b) community life, (c) spiritual life, (d) urban life, (e) church life, (f) church experience/small-group experience. Each of these six categories included a series of questions. The study showed, overall, that 64% participants’ responses indicated positive and constructive improvement since before the participants had joined the small group. This ultimately revealed that urban missional small groups can have a positive, meaningful, constructive, and measurable impact on young urban churched and unchurched postmodern millennials. Hence, a new urban missional church plant is scheduled to be planted September 2019. Conclusions In business, the term disruptive innovation means an idea that disturbs the status quo and changes the nature of the previous model or version that came before it. One may consider urban missional small groups as a type of disruptive innovation because they have the unique power to reach postmodern millennials. Small groups are a new and different way for young unchurched urban youth to meet spiritually, they focus specifically on mission in the city, and they foster a sense of diversity inclusivity, and they are, above all, user friendly. As a result of this small group endeavor is that there is currently a core group of new urban missional leaders who are empowered and equipped to (a) share the gospel with others, (b) disciple new believers, and (c) successfully lead other small groups that will ultimately attract this niche demographic and impact it spiritually for Christ

Perception and Use of Large Language Models by Library and Information Science Students

Large language models (LLMs) have ushered in transformative information retrieval, organisation, and dissemination possibilities. The study investigates the utilisation of LLMs by library and information science (LIS) students. A survey through a case study was done to unveil the evolving role of LLMs in LIS education and practice. Stratified and purposive sampling was used to select 59 students doing a degree in LIS at a public university in Zimbabwe. An online questionnaire was used to collect data which was analysed using content analysis. The findings showed that the students were aware of ChatGPT which they used for content generation. The major challenge was misinformation, bias, and the ethical considerations in using ChatGPT. The authors recommend the importance of training both students and educators on the ethical use of LLMs and the introduction of artificial intelligence literacy programmes. No study was done on the perception and use of LLMs by LIS students in Zimbabwe. The study contributes to a better understanding of how emerging technologies are reshaping the field and how students are at the forefront of navigating their opportunities and challenges. The results can inform curriculum development, training programs, and policy formulation for incorporating LLMs into library and information services

Examining the relationship between conceptualisation and practice of research support by librarians in selected Zimbabwean universities

Doctor of Philosophy. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2018.This study was carried out to examine and gain insight into the relationship between conceptualisation and practice of research support by librarians in Zimbabwean university libraries. This was mooted after realising that librarians practising research support were struggling to make a positive impact on the scholarly work of researchers. To facilitate the investigation, the study employed the Theory of Action: espoused theories and theories-in-use by Argyris and Schön (1974) as the fulcrum. Mission statements, strategic documents and policies of selected libraries were examined as conveyors of espoused theories to gain understanding of how research support was conceptualised. Services and facilities offered to researchers were examined to establish theories-in-use of librarians practising research support. Interviews and questionnaires were used to gather data about research support services. A constant comparison approach was used in analysing mission documents and interview scripts using the ATLAS.ti 8.0 software. The comparative analysis allowed for the development of subcategories and broad themes which facilitated the development of statements of claims for both conceptualisation and practice in each of the bounded cases. Meta-claims were developed from iterative cross-case comparison of findings from individual libraries investigated. Findings and conclusions showed that libraries conceptualised and espoused an information role in support of researchers which emphasised traditional services such as resource provision and training. Research support was practised using the Resources, Liaison and Shared Service models where services and facilities such as literature search, e-resources training, and institutional repositories were dominant. Practice of research support was conducted within a collaborative and technologically driven environment. Librarians reported ambiguity in the roles which they should play in the transitional research environment. Comparative analysis between conceptualisation and practice of research support meta-claims revealed several congruent and incongruent aspects which helped to explain why librarians were not being effective in support of researchers. It was discovered that librarians encountered several unusual experiences ranging from low attendance in training to antiquated policies. It was further established that librarians dealt with these unfamiliar experiences in practice using the Single Loop Learning strategy which emphasised the technical operating environment under which research support was being practised without necessarily questioning the goals, values and policies that inform the practice of research support. Contribution of this study to practice includes encouraging librarians to be reflective practitioners who should be sensitive to their operating environments in order to swiftly respond to new trends

Agent based models of consumer behavior in social networks: Adoption of organic foods

We model consumer acceptance of organic foods via an agent-based model (ABM), where we consider the acceptance taking place at the individual level (micro-level). Each age is assigned particular characteristics uch as the perceived benefit of consuming an organic product versus its standard counterpart, the sensitivity to price difference between the organic and the standard product, and a consumer's follower tendency. The last characteristic allows the studying of each individual's social network influence on its decision. Food type and consumer attributes play an important role in one's choice of a product. This phenomenon is dynamic in nature, as psychology explains how individuals' characters and behavior keep changing over time with respect to many factors around them. We model consumer acceptance of an organic food product in comparison to its conventional counterpart. We develop consumers' utility functions and we use agent based modeling to capture their heterogeneity and their dynamic interactions

Navigating algorithm bias in AI: ensuring fairness and trust in Africa

This article presents a perspective on the impact of algorithmic bias on information fairness and trust in artificial intelligence (AI) systems within the African context. The author's personal experiences and observations, combined with relevant literature, formed the basis of this article. The authors demonstrate why algorithm bias poses a substantial challenge in Africa, particularly regarding fairness and the integrity of AI applications. This perspective underscores the urgent need to address biases that compromise the fairness of information dissemination and undermine public trust. The authors advocate for the implementation of strategies that promote inclusivity, enhance cultural sensitivity, and actively engage local communities in the development of AI systems. By prioritizing ethical practices and transparency, stakeholders can mitigate the risks associated with bias, thereby fostering trust and ensuring equitable access to technology. Additionally, the article explores the potential consequences of inaction, including exacerbated social disparities, diminished confidence in public institutions, and economic stagnation. Ultimately, this work argues for a collaborative approach to AI that positions Africa as a leader in responsible development, ensuring that technology serves as a catalyst for sustainable development and social justice