Great Powersa Conflict Management and Resolution in South-East Asia: An Evaluation of North-Korean Denuclearization Process and Six Party Talks

With the lessons of 1950 s war on the Korean peninsular drawing from the initial soviet reluctance to back North Korea against the US forces and the subsequent lessons of global realism and constructivism learnt by the north in US perpetual support of the south the latter resorted to building a nuclear armament for its continuity and survival This paper is an evaluation of the efficacy of six party talks as adopted in conflict management and resolution in south-east Asia The paper adopts a descriptive secondary research from existing documented literatures for conclusive analogy The paper discovers that the six party talks is a diplomatic way of engaging the provoked north to halt its nuclear ambition for failure to denuclearize north Korea may serve as a great threat to US ally south Korea in the region The paper concludes that there is western nuclear strategy to dominate the global military industrial complex and warfare around the world-hence the perpetual subjugation of the global armament and the strategic deterrence of non proliferation The paper recommends mutual understanding respect to the sovereignty of states and balance of power among other thing

Federalism and the Arab League: A theoretical synergy

Abstract. The paper is a theoretical analogy of the Arab league as a regional organization. The paper also discusses the objectives, strengths and weaknesses of the league. By adopting descriptive-historical research from library instrument, findings show that, there is no doubt that the league had recorded some appreciable level of achievements since its inception and there have equally been some challenges along the line. The paper concludes that, the Arab league must find a way to reduce the perpetual tension and violence in Palestine by working towards enthroning a peaceful relationship with Israel while retaining their cultural identity. The paper also recommends that, the Arab league should strengthen their relationship with the non-Arab Nations especially in the face of globalization to reap the benefits therein involved as a league. Arab league must ensure that Arab states stop waging needless wars between and among themselves. The Syria and Yemeni crises among others is a disgrace to the Arab world.Keywords: Arab league, Theoretical, Synergy, Federalism, Integration.JEL. A10, F15

Digital citizen science for ethical surveillance of physical activity among youth: mobile ecological momentary assessments vs. retrospective recall

Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor of mortality globally. Hence, understanding the physical activity (PA) patterns of youth is essential to manage and mitigate non-communicable diseases. As digital citizen science approaches utilizing citizen-owned smartphones to ethically obtain PA big data can transform PA surveillance, this study aims to understand the frequency of PA reported by youth using smartphone-deployed retrospective validated surveys compared to prospective time-triggered mobile ecological momentary assessments (mEMAs). Using a digital citizen science methodology, this study recruited youth citizen scientists (N = 808) in 2018 (August 31- December 31) in Saskatchewan, Canada. Youth citizen scientists (age 13 to 21) reported their PA using prospective mEMAs and retrospective surveys over an eight-day period. A significant difference was found in reporting the frequency of PA retrospectively vs. prospectively via mEMAs (p < 0.000). Ethnicity, parental education, and strength training were associated with prospective PA frequency; however, no associations were significant with retrospective PA frequency. With access to ubiquitous digital devices growing worldwide, and youth having particularly high digital literacy, digital citizen science for the ethical surveillance of PA using mEMAs presents a promising approach for the management and prevention of non-communicable diseases among youth

A Literature Review of Salam Contract for Agricultural Development in Gombe State, Nigeria

Agriculture is essential to a country's economic development as seen in many advanced and developed nations who have valued and viewed agriculture as a catalyst for national prosperity and major source of food security. Bay’ Salam can be directly translated to ‘a forward sale or contract whereby a buyer purchases specific commodities that will be delivered by a seller in a future date which is more relevant to agricultural development. Although little has been accomplished in Nigeria, successive governments have placed a strong emphasis on the need to give the agricultural sector top priority to achieve both local and export food sufficiency. It's interesting to note that Gombe is recognized as one of the Nigerian states that have prioritized food and cash crop production as a vital endeavor that can improve both the state's and the nation's fortunes. However, agriculture must be integrated into modern society through Salam contract as suggested by this research to simplify agricultural endeavors, have a positive economic impact on the lives of farmers and rural communities, and to meet its demands and overcome its obstacles in Gombe state, Nigeria. The work used a qualitative research method that includes interview with relevant people on the subject matter and literature review to gather data. The study suggests that, if adopted, managed, and effectively used, the opportunities provided by Salam contract will strengthen the agricultural sector, lessen the frequent conflicts between farmers and herders, and ensure food security in Gombe State, Nigeri

Structure and genome of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic. It is the seventh coronavirus known to infect humans (the previous human coronaviruses are HCoV-OC43, HCoV-229E, HCoV-HKU1, HCoV-NL63, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV) and the third human coronavirus known to cause severe illness in human after SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. These three coronaviruses have caused three different severe respiratory diseases outbreaks within the last two decades: SARS in 2002-2003, MERS in 2012 and COVID-19 in 2020. The aim of this review was to summarize information on the genome and structure of SARS-CoV-2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus with a crown-like appearance due to the presence of spike glycoprotein on the envelope. The nonsegmented genome of SARS-CoV-2 of approximately 30kb encodes two large polyproteins, four main structural proteins namely spike, membrane, envelope and nucleocapsid proteins as well as several accessory proteins. Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genome shows that it is highly related to coronavirus from the bat (96%), pangolin (91%) and SARS-CoV (80%). Variants of SARS-CoV-2 have evolved continuously as a result of genetic mutations and are circulating worldwide. These variants have varying degrees of transmissibility, disease severity, susceptibility to therapeutics and detection by diagnostic tools. Understanding the structure and genome of SARS-CoV-2 is important in the control, management, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 as well as vaccine development

Memperkasa pembangunan modal insan Malaysia di peringkat kanak-kanak: kajian kebolehlaksanaan dan kebolehintegrasian pendidikan STEM dalam kurikulum PERMATA Negara

Kajian ini adalah mengenai pendidikan STEM (Sains, Teknologi, Kejuruteraan, Matematik) untuk PERMATA Negara dan bertujuan menentukan kebolehlaksanaan pendidikan STEM kepada kanak-kanak 3-4 tahun di taska PERMATA dan kebolehintegrasian pendidikan STEM ke dalam Kurikulum PERMATA Negara. Selain itu, kajian ini juga menilai kesan pendidikan STEM terhadap kebolehan inkuiri, penerokaan, rekacipta, refleksi, minat, komunikasi, dan kerjasama dalam kalangan kanak-kanak yang terlibat. Sepuluh Modul STEM telah dibina dan ditentusahkan oleh pendidik PERMATA dan penyelidik pakar bidang STEM. Seramai 22 orang pendidik dan 160 orang kanak-kanak dari 19 buah Taska PERMATA terlibat sebagai responden. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan peningkatan yang signifikan (p<0.001) terhadap kebolehan inkuiri, penerokaan, rekacipta, reflleksi, minat, dan komunikasi serta semangat kerjasama kanak-kanak. Kesan latihan STEM kepada pendidik juga menunjukkan peningkatan yang sangat besar dan signifikan terhadap pengetahuan, pemahaman, kemahiran dan keyakinan diri pendidik melaksanakan STEM di taska. Dapatan-dapatan ini memberi implikasi positif terhadap pelaksanaan STEM di peringkat awal kanak-kanak. Bahagian Permata Jabatan Perdana Menteri dan agensi-agensi pelaksana perlu segera mengintegrasikan STEM ke dalam kurikulum PERMATA dan menyediakan latihan profesional STEM kepada pendidik-pendidik menerusi penubuhan Jawatankuasa Pelaksana , penggubalan dasar-dasar yang sesuai , dan penglibatan industri, swasta dan GLC

Systemic adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced malignant ocular medulloepithelioma

BACKGROUND: Ocular medulloepithelioma (diktyoma) is a rare and potentially malignant paediatric tumour of the non-pigmented ciliary epithelium. Adjuvant chemotherapy can be given in advanced cases, but the indications and regimens remain to be defined. The aim was to identify whether adjuvant chemotherapy offers treatment benefit in advanced ocular medulloepithelioma. METHODS: This was a retrospective case series of subjects referred to a single specialist ocular oncology centre for advanced ocular medulloepithelioma subsequently treated with enucleation, including those needing adjuvant systemic vincristine, etoposide and carboplatin. A case-note review was performed for included subjects meeting referral criteria. The outcomes were histopathology characteristics, recurrence, metastases and survival. RESULTS: Between March 2010 and June 2017, four male patients (mean age 31 months) underwent enucleation for ocular medulloepithelioma. Adjuvant chemotherapy was commenced in 3 patients (75%) due to malignant histopathological features. With a mean follow-up time of 81.5 months (median 71 months, range 49-135 months) none of the patients have had recurrence, metastases or death from the tumour. CONCLUSIONS: This series is unique in reporting the management of advanced malignant ocular medulloepithelioma with adjuvant systemic vincristine, etoposide and carboplatin for advanced tumours with malignant features. This regimen appears to be safe and may be effective in preventing metastatic spread

Women's Voices, Work and Bodily Integrity in Pre?Conflict, Conflict and Post?Conflict Reconstruction Processes in Sierra Leone

This article focuses on the historical trajectories of women's empowerment in Sierra Leone, taking three entry?points as a means of exploring the dynamics of change over the pre?conflict, conflict and post?conflict periods: voice and political participation; work and economic participation; and bodily integrity. Looking at pathways of empowerment in pre?conflict Sierra Leone, at experiences of women during the time of conflict over the course of a long and brutal civil war from 1991–2002, and at post?conflict possibilities, the article highlights some of the changes that have taken place in women's lives and the avenues that are opening up in Sierra Leone in a time of peace. It suggests that understanding women's pathways of empowerment in Sierra Leone calls for closer attention to be paid to the dynamics of conflict and post?conflict reconstruction, and to the significance of context in shaping constraints and opportunities

Whole-Genome Sequencing of Retinoblastoma Reveals the Diversity of Rearrangements Disrupting RB1 and Uncovers a Treatment-Related Mutational Signature.

The development of retinoblastoma is thought to require pathological genetic changes in both alleles of the RB1 gene. However, cases exist where RB1 mutations are undetectable, suggesting alternative pathways to malignancy. We used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and transcriptomics to investigate the landscape of sporadic retinoblastomas derived from twenty patients, sought RB1 and other driver mutations and investigated mutational signatures. At least one RB1 mutation was identified in all retinoblastomas, including new mutations in addition to those previously identified by clinical screening. Ten tumours carried structural rearrangements involving RB1 ranging from relatively simple to extremely complex rearrangement patterns, including a chromothripsis-like pattern in one tumour. Bilateral tumours obtained from one patient harboured conserved germline but divergent somatic RB1 mutations, indicating independent evolution. Mutational signature analysis showed predominance of signatures associated with cell division, an absence of ultraviolet-related DNA damage and a profound platinum-related mutational signature in a chemotherapy-exposed tumour. Most RB1 mutations are identifiable by clinical screening. However, the increased resolution and ability to detect otherwise elusive rearrangements by WGS have important repercussions on clinical management and advice on recurrence risks