Sexual harassment in Malaysian educational institutions: causes and solutions

The vitality of schools in proffering solutions to the societal challenges cannot be underrated. However, school as a hub and pivot place in addressing multifarious challenges in our society is faced with some social ills such as bullying and sexual harassment. An escalation of sexual harassment in schools' and on campuses cannot be denied. The greater challenge is inadequacy and ineffective measures to curb prevalence of sexual harassment. More so, there are only a few existing guidelines in combating sexual harassment such as the Penal Code, Employment Act and the Code of Conduct for Industrial Harmony. However, there is yet to be a proper academic focus providing an effective mode of minimizing the prevalence of sexual harassment in schools and institutions of higher learning by formulating a policy and procedure in eschewing sexual harassment in schools in particular, and society in general in Malaysia. Hence, this paper elaborately explicates the various issues relating to sexual harassment in the Malaysian schools and institutions of higher learning and further, the suggested approaches towards its prevention

Основные направления и перспективы изучения имиджа науки в современном обществе

Ставится проблема имиджа науки, понимаемого как совокупность содержатель-и эмоционально-оценочных представлений о существенных компонентах науки. Обосновываются основные направления исследования и формирования имиджа науки. Выделяются и анализируются виды имиджа науки в современном российском обществе.Поставлено проблему іміджу науки, який розуміється як сукупність змістових і емоційно-оціночних уявлень щодо існуючих компонентів науки. Обґрунтовано основні напрями досліджень і формування іміджу науки. Виокремлено і проаналізовано види іміджу науки в сучасному російському суспільстві.The author puts the problem of the image of science, considered as a combination of visions on the existing components of science, based on knowledge, emotions and judgments. The main areas of research related with the image of science are justified, with distinguishing and analyzing the types of vision on science within the Russian society

In vivo sensitivity estimation and imaging acceleration with rotating RF coil arrays at 7 Tesla

Using a new rotating SENSitivity Encoding (rotating-SENSE) algorithm, we have successfully demonstrated that the rotating radiofrequency coil array (RRFCA) was capable of achieving a significant reduction in scan time and a uniform image reconstruction for a homogeneous phantom at 7 Tesla. However, at 7 Tesla the in vivo sensitivity profiles (B) become distinct at various angular positions. Therefore, sensitivity maps at other angular positions cannot be obtained by numerically rotating the acquired ones. In this work, a novel sensitivity estimation method for the RRFCA was developed and validated with human brain imaging. This method employed a library database and registration techniques to estimate coil sensitivity at an arbitrary angular position. The estimated sensitivity maps were then compared to the acquired sensitivity maps. The results indicate that the proposed method is capable of accurately estimating both magnitude and phase of sensitivity at an arbitrary angular position, which enables us to employ the rotating-SENSE algorithm to accelerate acquisition and reconstruct image. Compared to a stationary coil array with the same number of coil elements, the RRFCA was able to reconstruct images with better quality at a high reduction factor. It is hoped that the proposed rotation-dependent sensitivity estimation algorithm and the acceleration ability of the RRFCA will be particularly useful for ultra high field MRI

Developing the islamic financial services sector in Italy: An institutional theory perspective

© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and the Author(s) 2016. The Islamic Financial Services (IFS) sector has experienced wider consumer acceptance and rapid growth since its commercial launch in the 1970s. This growth has primarily been in countries in Asia such as Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan and the Middle East region. Although non-Muslim majority countries like Hong Kong and Singapore have taken positive strides in developing the sector, European countries have lagged behind their Asian counterparts (Daily Times, 2013). Europe is host to a large Muslim population, but the lack of developed Islamic financial institutions means that the potential of IFS product offerings is yet to be fully realized in the region (Volk and Pudelko, 2010)

Transient solutions to nonlinear acousto-magneto-mechanical coupling for axisymmetric MRI scanner design

In this work, we simulate the coupled physics describing a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner by using a higher order finite element discretisation and a Newton‐Raphson algorithm. To apply the latter, a linearisation of the non‐linear system of equations is necessary and we consider two alternative approaches. In the first, the non‐linear approach, there is no approximation from a physical standpoint and the linearisation is performed about the current solution. In the second, the linearised approach, we realise that the MRI problem can be described by small dynamic fluctuations about a dominant static solution and linearise about the latter. The linearised approach permits solutions in the frequency domain and provides a computationally efficient way to solve this challenging problem, as it allows the tangent stiffness matrix to be inverted independently of time or frequency. We focus on transient solutions to the coupled system of equations and address the following two important questions; 1) How good is the agreement between the computationally efficient linearised approach compared with the intensive non‐linear approach? and 2) Over what range of MRI operating conditions can the linearised approach be expected to provide acceptable results for outputs of interest in an industrial context for MRI scanner design? We include a set of academic and industrially relevant examples to benchmark and illustrate our approach

Numerical Modelling of the Electromagnetic Field – Material Interactions in Magnetic Resonance Imaging

With the latest developments in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, particularly in the areas of high-field superconducting magnets, high-performance ultra-short gradient coils and high radio-frequency (RF) excitation devices; the interaction of electromagnetic fields generated by the new generation of imagers and patients, healthcare workers as well as system components has recently attracted substantial attention. Due to the complexity of the electromagnetic field - tissue and field - metal interactions, computational modelling plays an essential role in the analysis, design and development of modern MRI systems. Recent progress in the development of MRI superconducting magnets has resulted in a considerable increase in human exposure to very large static magnetic fields of up to several Tesla. Body movement through these fields can cause the induction of currents that are potentially above the regulatory limits. In addition to that, novel imaging sequences demand very large magnitudes and high switching rates in magnetic field gradients, which are known to be the prime source of frequently reported peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) sites in the patients. When highfrequency fields are employed to excite a spin ensemble during MRI imaging, electromagnetic energy is coupled with the tissue and deposited within, which causes regional temperature elevations within the patient, thus leading to possible tissue/cell injury. Overall, electromagnetic field – tissue interaction is a hot topic of research and requires further analysis and consideration. Apart from interacting with the patient, electromagnetic fields produced by the imager also couple to the conducting materials in the MRI system to induce eddy currents that degrade image quality. The eddy current manifestations are a significant concern in MRI and require accurate prediction models, analysis schemes and control methods. Overall this thesis is concerned with computational bioelectromagnetics and associated effects such as concomitant thermal changes. The developed methods are also used in novel design scenarios. In part, this research engages the numerical computational modelling of patient and healthcare worker exposures to strong static and low-frequency pulsed magnetic fields produced by different main superconducting magnets and gradient coils respectively. The main focus herein is on the computation of electric field and current density distributions and levels within tissue-equivalent models of males and females. Various exposure scenarios and setups are considered in the work to evaluate, analyze, compare, comprehend and predict the worst-case field induction in the tissue. This information is particularly useful in terms of compliant activity around and within the clinical MRI imagers. The thesis also details the development and utilization of modified finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) methods in cylindrical space for numerical modelling of lowfrequency transient eddy currents induced within realistic cryostat vessels during both longitudinal and transverse magnetic field gradient switching. In addition, transient eddy currents are numerically evaluated using the method and incorporated into a longitudinal gradient coil design process. In the optimization procedure the gradient coil is modified so that the fields created by the coil and the eddy currents combine together to generate spatially homogeneous gradients that follows the desired temporal variation. In that way the eddy currents are neither prevented nor minimized but rather constructively used in shaping uniform space-time magnetic field gradients. Furthermore, the research presents linear and non-linear heat transfer computational models on the basis of the conventional Penne’s bio-heat transfer equation. The nonlinear model is verified against experimental temperature results from a hyperthermia study on a mouse using a 150 kHz induction coil, while the linear model is used directly in a study on rats under the exposure of high-frequency volume resonators (0.5 - 1 GHz). The thermal models find applications in modelling the deposition of electromagnetic field energy within tissue and computation of associated thermal effects in high-field MRI

PATTERNS FOR SUSTAINABLE USE OF THREATENED MEDICINAL PLANTS WITH HIGH MARKET REQUIREMENTS

Due to the over-exploitation from their natural habitats many medicinal and aromatic plants are extremely threatened in the Western Balkan, but also in South-Eastern Europe. Some of them are included in both, the regional and the European Red list. However, a strong need for some of them exists on the markets, while an adequate replacement for diverse pharmaceutics and dietetics contained within them has not been found yet [1]. Such is also the case with the widely known and in ethnobotany frequently applied species Gentiana lutea ssp. symphyandra Murbeck that grows only in the high mountains of the Western Balkan [2]. This plant has been used to treat stomach and heart diseases. Its root (Gentianae radix) is becoming an increasingly demanded drug on the modern pharmaceutical market [3]. Therefore, gentian root is being exploited without any surveillance or control which leads to the drastic decrease in number of its natural populations in most of the investigated mountains. In some mountains this species has almost completely disappeared. Despite numerous conventions (such as CITES, CBD, Bern Convention), over 65 t of dried gentian root has been illegally exported to the European market from Bosnia and Herzegovina (which is the centre of its distribution) in the last year, which is an ongoing trend. This root reaches the European market as Taraxaci radix. In order to achieve a sustainable protection for this economically and pharmacologically threatened medicinal plant, it is necessary to increase the level of responsibility of not only local exporters but also of foreign importers. Both parties have to be forced to respect international documents on traffic and trade with threatened wild species. In order to protect this and other species, artificial propagation under in situ conditions has been initiated, whereby geological foundation (dolomites) and ratio between calcium and magnesium in the ground are very important. Extraordinary results in this respect have been achieved. Propagation attempts under ex situ conditions have not given the expected results. Directed and planned propagation of Gentiana lutea in natural conditions could contribute to its efficient protection, but could also help meet the requirements of the market which has to be subdued to stricter controls. References: 1. Redzic S (2006) Proc 1st IFOAM Intern Conf Organic Wild Production, 117-141. 2. Redzic SS (2007) Coll. Antropol. 31: 869-890. 3. Redzic S (2007) Planta Medica 73:1013

Metrology for MRI Safety

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has become an indispensable medical imaging modality with about 30 million patient exams in the EU every year and an excellent history of safe use. Nevertheless, it is continuously evolving and recent technological developments such as ultrahigh magnetic fields, parallel transmission, or MRI guided radiotherapy promise to significantly enhance the quality and the range of applicability of MRI. A major reason why these technological developments are not yet used in the clinical practice are unresolved safety issues. If the patient risk cannot be quantified reliably, a ‘safety first’ attitude naturally prevails preventing the routine use of new technologies or the scanning of subjects at high risk, e.g. carriers of metallic medical implants. The EMRP joint research project HLT 06 “Metrology for MRI Safety” aimed at providing such risk assessments for certain new developments or applications in MRI. The project was concluded in 2015 and some key results will be presented here