Search

The purpose of this study was to explore the stakeholders' perspectives on parental engagement in pre-primary schools in Nzega District, Tanzania. This study, therefore, explored how stakeholders define parental engagement and identify behaviours that are indicative of it. The study was qualitative, and a phenomenological design was adopted. It consisted of six focus group sessions with a total of 34 parents. A semi-structured interview was conducted with five pre-primary school teachers, four head teachers and five chairpersons of the school committees in the six selected schools. It deployed Braun and Clarke \cite{braun2006using} six steps of qualitative data analysis. Results showed that there was a slight variation within and between stakeholder groups on how they define and experience parental engagement. To enhance common understanding, participants felt the need to enhance parents' competencies to support their children's learning at home and in school. This study, therefore, recommends the need for intervention programmes that will empower parents to effectively engage in their children's learning opportunities at home and in pre-primary schools.

Taxes are believed to distort how firms behave and market equilibrium. Since tax reduces equity returns, firms will intuitively reduce tax costs through tax avoidance and any other production or operational cost to achieve the highest returns. One of the production costs that often under hair cross is labour cost. Firms can use their bargaining power to reduce wages to offset tax costs. On the other hand, firms' attempt to reduce wages might, in turn, lower their production output. Lower output means a lesser taxable base and less marginal benefit for tax avoidance. Lower output also means lower equity returns and might incentivize firms to do more tax avoidance. Therefore, many researchers are looking for answers to the following question: how much do firms avoid tax in the face of their capability to shift the tax burden to labour? This study aims to investigate the relationship between tax incidence and tax avoidance in the industrial sector in Indonesia. While previous studies have shown solid empirical support for this relationship, Indonesia's employment conditions and industrial characteristics differ from those in the United States and other countries. The data for the study was taken from the reports of IDX-listed companies in the industrial sector ranging from the year 2018 to the year 2022. The data analysis uses Generalized Least Square (GLS) panel data regression. Using education level as a proxy for tax incidence and cash ETR as a proxy for tax avoidance, the authors found no significant connection between them because the industrial sector predominantly employs a much higher number of workers with low education levels compared to those with higher education. Additionally, highly educated workers in Indonesia often face job market challenges; thus, horizontal mismatches happen. Instead, other variables like sales growth, leverage, firm size, SG&A expenses, and loss carryforward significantly influence tax avoidance.

Abstract Background Longitudinal records of automatically-recorded vaginal temperature (TV) could be a key source of data for deriving novel indicators of climatic resilience (CR) for breeding more resilient pigs, especially during lactation when sows are at an increased risk of suffering from heat stress (HS). Therefore, we derived 15 CR indicators based on the variability in TV in lactating sows and estimated their genetic parameters. We also investigated their genetic relationship with sows’ key reproductive traits. Results The heritability estimates of the CR traits ranged from 0.000 ± 0.000 for slope for decreased rate of TV (SlopeDe) to 0.291 ± 0.047 for sum of TV values below the HS threshold (HSUB). Moderate to high genetic correlations (from 0.508 ± 0.056 to 0.998 ± 0.137) and Spearman rank correlations (from 0.431 to 1.000) between genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV) were observed for five CR indicators, i.e. HS duration (HSD), the normalized median multiplied by normalized variance (Nor_medvar), the highest TV value of each measurement day for each individual (MaxTv), and the sum of the TV values above (HSUA) and below (HSUB) the HS threshold. These five CR indicators were lowly to moderately genetically correlated with shoulder skin surface temperature (from 0.139 ± 0.008 to 0.478 ± 0.048) and respiration rate (from 0.079 ± 0.011 to 0.502 ± 0.098). The genetic correlations between these five selected CR indicators and sow reproductive performance traits ranged from − 0.733 to − 0.175 for total number of piglets born alive, from − 0.733 to − 0.175 for total number of piglets born, and from − 0.434 to − 0.169 for number of pigs weaned. The individuals with the highest GEBV (most climate-sensitive) had higher mean skin surface temperature, respiration rate (RR), panting score (PS), and hair density, but had lower mean body condition scores compared to those with the lowest GEBV (most climate-resilient). Conclusions Most of the CR indicators evaluated are heritable with substantial additive genetic variance. Five of them, i.e. HSD, MaxTv, HSUA, HSUB, and Nor_medvar share similar underlying genetic mechanisms. In addition, individuals with higher CR indicators are more likely to exhibit better HS-related physiological responses, higher body condition scores, and improved reproductive performance under hot conditions. These findings highlight the potential benefits of genetically selecting more heat-tolerant individuals based on CR indicators.

Base excision repair enzymes (BERs) detect and repair oxidative DNA damage with efficacy despite the small size of the defects and their often only minor structural impact. A charge transfer (CT) model for rapid scanning of DNA stretches has been evoked to explain the high detection rate in the face of numerous, small lesions. The viability of CT DNA defect detection is explored via hybrid QM/MM computational studies that leverage the accuracy of quantum mechanics (QM) for a region of interest and the descriptive power of molecularmechanics (MM) for the remainder of the system. We find that the presence of an oxidative lesion lowers theredox free energy of oxidation by approximately 1.0 eV regardless of DNA compaction (free DNA versus packed DNA in nucleosome core particles) and damage location indicating the high feasibility of a CT-based process for defect detection in DNA.

Abstract Background Automatic and continuous recording of vaginal temperature (TV) using wearable sensors causes minimal disruptions to animal behavior and can generate data that enable the evaluation of temporal body temperature variation under heat stress (HS) conditions. However, the genetic basis of TV in lactating sows from a longitudinal perspective is still unknown. The objectives of this study were to define statistical models and estimate genetic parameters for TV in lactating sows using random regression models, and identify genomic regions and candidate genes associated with HS indicators derived from automatically-recorded TV. Results Heritability estimates for TV ranged from 0.14 to 0.20 over time (throughout the day and measurement period) and from 0.09 to 0.18 along environmental gradients (EG, − 3.5 to 2.2, which correspond to dew point values from 14.87 to 28.19 ˚C). Repeatability estimates of TV over time and along EG ranged from 0.57 to 0.66 and from 0.54 to 0.77, respectively. TV measured from 12h00 to 16h00 had moderately high estimates of heritability (0.20) and repeatability (0.64), indicating that this period might be the most suitable for recording TV for genetic selection purposes. Significant genotype-by-environment interactions (GxE) were observed and the moderately high estimates of genetic correlations between pairs of extreme EG indicate potential re-ranking of selection candidates across EG. Two important genomic regions on chromosomes 10 (59.370–59.998 Mb) and16 (21.548–21.966 Mb) were identified. These regions harbor the genes CDC123, CAMK1d, SEC61A2, and NUDT5 that are associated with immunity, protein transport, and energy metabolism. Across the four time-periods, respectively 12, 13, 16, and 10 associated genomic regions across 14 chromosomes were identified for TV. For the three EG classes, respectively 18, 15, and 14 associated genomic windows were identified for TV, respectively. Each time-period and EG class had uniquely enriched genes with identified specific biological functions, including regulation of the nervous system, metabolism and hormone production. Conclusions TV is a heritable trait with substantial additive genetic variation and represents a promising indicator trait to select pigs for improved heat tolerance. Moderate GxE for TV exist, indicating potential re-ranking of selection candidates across EG. TV is a highly polygenic trait regulated by a complex interplay of physiological, cellular and behavioral mechanisms.

Abstract Background Genetic selection based on direct indicators of heat stress could capture additional mechanisms that are involved in heat stress response and enable more accurate selection for more heat-tolerant individuals. Therefore, the main objectives of this study were to estimate genetic parameters for various heat stress indicators in a commercial population of Landrace × Large White lactating sows measured under heat stress conditions. The main indicators evaluated were: skin surface temperatures (SST), automatically-recorded vaginal temperature (TV), respiration rate (RR), panting score (PS), body condition score (BCS), hair density (HD), body size (BS), ear size, and respiration efficiency (Reff). Results Traits based on TV presented moderate heritability estimates, ranging from 0.15 ± 0.02 to 0.29 ± 0.05. Low heritability estimates were found for SST traits (from 0.04 ± 0.01 to 0.06 ± 0.01), RR (0.06 ± 0.01), PS (0.05 0.01), and Reff (0.03 ± 0.01). Moderate to high heritability values were estimated for BCS (0.29 ± 0.04 for caliper measurements and 0.25 ± 0.04 for visual assessments), HD (0.25 ± 0.05), BS (0.33 ± 0.05), ear area (EA; 0.40 ± 0.09), and ear length (EL; 0.32 ± 0.07). High genetic correlations were estimated among SST traits (> 0.78) and among TV traits (> 0.75). Similarly, high genetic correlations were also estimated for RR with PS (0.87 ± 0.02), with BCS measures (0.92 ± 0.04), and with ear measures (0.95 ± 0.03). Low to moderate positive genetic correlations were estimated between SST and TV (from 0.25 ± 0.04 to 0.76 ± 0.07). Low genetic correlations were estimated between TV and BCS (from − 0.01 ± 0.08 to 0.06 ± 0.07). Respiration efficiency was estimated to be positively and moderately correlated with RR (0.36 ± 0.04), PS (0.56 ± 0.03), and BCS (0.56 ± 0.05 for caliper measurements and 0.50 ± 0.05 for the visual assessments). All other trait combinations were lowly genetically correlated. Conclusions A comprehensive landscape of heritabilities and genetic correlations for various thermotolerance indicators in lactating sows were estimated. All traits evaluated are under genetic control and heritable, with different magnitudes, indicating that genetic progress is possible for all of them. The genetic correlation estimates provide evidence for the complex relationships between these traits and confirm the importance of a sub-index of thermotolerance traits to improve heat tolerance in pigs.

Abstract Background Rumen microbes break down complex dietary carbohydrates into energy sources for the host and are increasingly shown to be a key aspect of animal performance. Host genotypes can be combined with microbial DNA sequencing to predict performance traits or traits related to environmental impact, such as enteric methane emissions. Metagenome profiles were generated from 3139 rumen samples, collected from 1200 dual purpose ewes, using restriction enzyme-reduced representation sequencing (RE-RRS). Phenotypes were available for methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the ratio of CH4 to CH4 plus CO2 (CH4Ratio), feed efficiency (residual feed intake: RFI), liveweight at the time of methane collection (LW), liveweight at 8 months (LW8), fleece weight at 12 months (FW12) and parasite resistance measured by faecal egg count (FEC1). We estimated the proportion of phenotypic variance explained by host genetics and the rumen microbiome, as well as prediction accuracies for each of these traits. Results Incorporating metagenome profiles increased the variance explained and prediction accuracy compared to fitting only genomics for all traits except for CO2 emissions when animals were on a grass diet. Combining the metagenome profile with host genotype from lambs explained more than 70% of the variation in methane emissions and residual feed intake. Predictions were generally more accurate when incorporating metagenome profiles compared to genetics alone, even when considering profiles collected at different ages (lamb vs adult), or on different feeds (grass vs lucerne pellet). A reference-free approach to metagenome profiling performed better than metagenome profiles that were restricted to capturing genera from a reference database. We hypothesise that our reference-free approach is likely to outperform other reference-based approaches such as 16S rRNA gene sequencing for use in prediction of individual animal performance. Conclusions This paper shows the potential of using RE-RRS as a low-cost, high-throughput approach for generating metagenome profiles on thousands of animals for improved prediction of economically and environmentally important traits. A reference-free approach using a microbial relationship matrix from log10 proportions of each tag normalized within cohort (i.e., the group of animals sampled at the same time) is recommended for future predictions using RE-RRS metagenome profiles.

This study aimed at the effect of ICT on the efficiency of e-learning in higher institutions of Kogi State. The study adopted descriptive research design. 226 respondents were surveyed. Reliability results showed the Cronbach alpha of ICT adoption for e-learning (α = 0.984) and efficiency of e-learning (α = 0.755). Data were gathered and analysed using descriptive, Multiple Regression and Binary Logit Regression. Finding showed that ICT adoption has strong influence on efficiency of e-learning in the higher institutions of Kogi State. The study recommended that policy makers should strategically design a framework that can enhance effective ICT adoption to influence improved efficiency of e-learning in the higher institutions of Kogi State.

In this conference essay, we reflect on a sandpit, organized by the AHRC Everyday Creativity Research Network on the theme of place-making and everyday creativity. We begin by introducing the Everyday Creativity Research Network and the problems faced in defining everyday creativity, which was a key objective of this sandpit. We then discuss the program and major themes identified during the event. We distinguish between the concepts of "space" and "place," with particular consideration into how these concepts shape policies on everyday creativity. "Spaces of opportunity" is proposed in this context as a potential term that offers a framework to understand subjective and collective uses of creativity. We also identify constraints that hinder everyday creativity, including limitations on resources and lack of access. We explore how present models of creative initiatives are restricted by bureaucratic procedures that necessitate a focus on output as a measure of impact. We conclude by reflecting on future actions for this Network to propose alternative models of creative initiatives that encourage everyday creativity in a way that minimizes judgments and barriers while respecting local understandings of creativity.

Résumé : En Côte d'Ivoire, de 1999 à 2011, l'instabilité politique a provoqué des crises ayant fragilisé le tissu social et modifié les modes de vie des populations. Face à ces perturbations, l'interdit a souvent perdu son sens et les valeurs semblent obsolètes, tandis que l'éducation a perdu de son importance. La montée de la violence chez les élèves, les enseignants et les parents suggère une utilisation fréquente de la violence pour résoudre rapidement les problèmes. Cette étude se demande si ces personnes comprennent réellement les graves conséquences des crises sociopolitiques dans les écoles et comment réduire les effets négatifs de ces bouleversements sociaux pour construire un système éducatif plus performant. L'étude s'appuie sur la théorie des représentations sociales de Moscovici (1961) et l'approche structurale d'Abric (1976) pour analyser les pensées des enseignants et celles des parents concernant l'impact des crises dans les écoles ivoiriennes. Deux cents individus, comprenant 100 enseignants et 100 parents d'élèves d'Abobo à Abidjan, de Boundiali, de Korhogo et de Bouaké en Côte d'Ivoire, ont été soumis à un questionnaire d'évocations hiérarchisées. Les résultats montrent que les représentations sociales se caractérisent principalement par les concepts de violence, de mort, de baisse du niveau et de fermeture des écoles. Une analyse plus approfondie de ces représentations pourrait contribuer à lutter plus efficacement contre les crises dans la société. Mots-clés : Approche psychosociale, évocations hiérarchisées, enseignants, représentations sociales, éléments centraux, éléments périphériques

Résumé : Cette étude, inscrite dans le double champ de la sociolinguistique et de la didactique des langues-cultures, a pour objectif de décrire les représentations linguistiques des apprenants du secondaire général ivoirien à partir de leurs discours épilinguistiques sur les langues vivantes étrangères apprises à l’école. Dans une approche quantitative et qualitative, nous tentons de répondre au moyen d’un questionnaire et d’un entretien semi-directif à ces questions : Quelles sont les représentations linguistiques des apprenants sur les langues vivantes étrangères apprises dans l’institution scolaire ivoirienne ? Quel est l’impact de ces représentations sur l’apprentissage de ces langues ? Les discours épilinguistiques ont été obtenus dans trois établissements secondaires. Les résultats permettent de se rendre compte du contraste saisissant entre les représentations linguistiques positives des apprenants sur les langues vivantes étrangères et leur motivation à les apprendre. Bien que leur conscience disciplinaire soit claire, les difficultés d’apprentissage et quelquefois certaines pratiques enseignantes sont loin de leur faciliter la tâche. Mots-clés : Côte d’Ivoire, enseignement-apprentissage, langues vivantes étrangères, représentations linguistiques.

Building on previous research, this study explored differences in university professors’ perceptions about writing from the beginning to the end of the baccalaureate experience across five common disciplines including biology, business, computer science, engineering, and psychology. Survey data provide insights regarding the relative importance of various aspects of writing along with information about the volume of writing, the extent to which feedback was provided and resubmissions were allowed, the types of writing completed for exams, the greatest writing challenges, and the most salient writing purposes across disciplines and over time. While factors such as the writing challenges students faced, seemed unaffected by discipline or time in a particular discipline, other factors were noticeably influenced by the students’ specific discipline, whether students were at the beginning or end of their baccalaureate experience, or both. These factors included distinct differences in the purposes of writing as well as different perceptions of the importance of various aspects of writing across disciplines. An understanding of both these commonalities as well as the differences should be useful for practitioners and university administrators as well as the students themselves.

Résumé : Dans cet article, il est question de l’alphabétisation et de la formation professionnelle des riziculteurs en secteur informel dans la sous-préfecture de Didiévi. Notre enquête de terrain nous a permis de connaitre la nécessité et le besoin des riziculteurs dans cette ladite localité et surtout de montrer l’importance grandissante que prennent les formations à la gestion et à l’entreprenariat en vue d’aider les riziculteurs analphabètes (personne ne sachant ni lire, ni écrire) et responsables de micro et petites entreprises à mieux structurer et développer leurs activités génératrices de revenus. Mots-clés : Alphabétisation, formation professionnelle, riziculteurs, analphabètes, secteur informel.

The following books are reviewed: Klaus-Peter Adam, Friedrich Avemarie och Nili Wazana (red.), Law and Narrative in the Bible and in Neighbouring Ancient Cultures (Josef Forsling) Stephen P. Ahearne-Kroll, Paul A. Holloway och James A. Kelhoffer (red.), Women and Gender in Ancient Religions: Interdisciplinary Approaches (Hanna Stenström) Dale C. Allison, Volker Leppin, Choon-Leong Seow, Hermann Spieckermann, Barry Dov Walfish och Eric Ziolkowski (red.), Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception, v. 3 (Göran Eidevall) Dale C. Allison, Volker Leppin, Choon-Leong Seow, Hermann Spieckermann, Barry Dov Walfish och Eric Ziolkowski (red.), Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception, v. 5 (Mikael Larsson) Joseph L. Angel, Otherworldly and Eschatological Priesthood in the Dead Sea Scrolls (Torleif Elgvin) Eve-Marie Becker och Anders Runesson (red.), Mark and Matthew I: Comparative Readings: Understanding the Earliest Gospels in their First-century Settings (Tobias Hägerland) Bob Becking, Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Construction of Early Jewish Identity (Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer) April D. DeConick, Holy Misogyny: Why the Sex and Gender Conflicts in the Early Church Still Matter (Hanna Stenström) Daniel R. Driver, Brevard Childs, Biblical Theologian: For the Church’ s One Bible (LarsOlov Eriksson) Göran Eidevall och Blaženka Scheuer (red.), Enigmas and Images: Studies in Honor of Tryggve N. D. Mettinger (Stig Norin) Weston W. Fields, The Dead Sea Scrolls: A Full History (Cecilia Wassén) Miriam Goldstein, Karaite Exegesis in Medieval Jerusalem: The Judeo-Arabic Pentateuch Commentary of Yūsuf ibn Nūḥ and Abū al-Faraj Hārūn (Lena- Sofia Tiemeyer) Leif Hongisto, Experiencing the Apocalypse at the Limits of Alterity (Hanna Stenström) Jan Joosten, The Verbal System of Biblical Hebrew: A New Synthesis Elaborated on the Basis of Classical Prose (Ulf Bergström) Christos Karakolis, Karl-Wilhelm Niebuhr och Sviatoslav Rogalsky (red.), Gospel Images of Jesus Christ in Church Tradition and in Biblical Scholarship (Mikael Sundkvist) Thomas Kazen, Issues of Impurity in Early Judaism (Cecilia Wassén) Chris Keith, Jesus’ Literacy: Scribal Culture and the Teacher from Galilee (Tobias Ålöw) Anthony Le Donne, The Historiographical Jesus: Memory, Typology, and the Son of David (Jennifer Nyström) Kenneth Liljeström (red.), The Early Reception of Paul (Martin Wessbrandt) Aren M. Maeir, Jodi Magness and Lawrence H. Schiffman (ed.), ‘Go Out and Study the Land’ (Judges 18:2): Archaeological, Historical and Textual Studies in Honor of Hanan Eshel (Torleif Elgvin) David L. Mathewson, Verbal Aspect in the Book of Revelation: The Function of Greek Verb Tenses in John’s Apocalypse (Jan H. Nylund) Robert K. McIver, Memory, Jesus, and the Synoptic Gospels (Jennifer Nyström) Sun Myung Lyu, Righteousness in the Book of Proverbs (Bo Johnson) Stefan Nordenson, Genom honom skapades allt: En exegetisk studie om Kristi preexistens och medlarfunktion i Nya testamentet (Hanna Stenström) Stefan Nordgaard Svendsen, Allegory Transformed: The Appropriation of Philonic Hermeneutics in the Letter to the Hebrews (Johannes Imberg) Donna Lee Petter, The Book of Ezekiel and Mesopotamian City Laments (Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer) Stanley E. Porter, Jeffrey T. Reed och Matthew Brook O’Donnell, Fundamentals of New Testament Greek (Jan H. Nylund) Stanley E. Porter och Jeffrey T. Reed, Fundamentals of New Testament Greek: Workbook (Jan H. Nylund) Karl Olav Sandnes, The Gospel ‘According to Homer and Virgil’: Cento and Canon (Maria Sturesson) Tanja Schultheiss, Das Petrusbild im Johannesevangelium (Finn Damgaard) William A. Tooman, Gog of Magog: Reuse of Scripture and Compositional Technique in Ezekiel 38–39 (Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer) Paul Trebilco, Self-designations and Group Identity in the New Testament (Rikard Roitto) Caroline Vander Stichele och Hugh Pyper (red.), Text, Image, and Otherness in Children’s Bibles: What Is in the Picture? (Mikael Larsson) Patricia Walters, The Assumed Authorial Unity of Luke and Acts: A Reassessment of the Evidence (Carl Johan Berglund) Amanda Witmer, Jesus, the Galilean Exorcist: His Exorcisms in Social and Political Context (Jennifer Nyström)

Flow chemistry was initially used for speed to early phase material delivery in the development laboratories, scaling up chemical transformations that we would not or could not scale up batch for safety reasons. Some early examples included a Newman Kwart Rearrangement, Claisen rearrangement, hydroformylation, and thermal imidazole cyclization. Next, flow chemistry was used to enable safe scale up of hazardous chemistries to manufacturing plants. Examples included high pressure hydrogenation, aerobic oxidation, and Grignard formation reactions. More recently, flow chemistry was used in Small Volume Continuous (SVC) processes, where highly potent oncolytic molecules were produced by fully continuous processes at about 10 kg/day including reaction, extraction, distillation, and crystallization, using disposable equipment contained in fume hoods.

While overt forms of sexism in organisations are on the decline, covert ones are becoming the norm. This article argues that illegitimate tasks are a disguised form of gender-based discrimination and harassment. To support this argument, evidence is provided about the effects of sexism on occupational well-being that are caused by undertaking illegitimate tasks. The authors focus on the relationship between sexist organisational climate and illegitimate tasks and the resulting effects on job satisfaction and irritation. The empirical data used in the analyses were obtained from a cross-sectional study of a sample of German psychologists. After controlling for the effects of gender, the results provided evidence of the negative effects that a sexist organisational climate has on irritation and job satisfaction, mediated by illegitimate tasks.

This piece introduces and recreates a critical dialogue which occurred in the summer of 2021 among educational practitioners at the University of Rhode Island (USA), during an interdisciplinary teach-in retreat on Intercultural Competence Development for Teachers and Learners. The authors were among the participants who collaborated on this project led by Anna Santucci; here, they offer a snapshot of the exchange that took place on the final day of the retreat. The themes that emerged throughout the teach-in, summarized in that closing conversation, significantly resonate with the RISE Manifesto (Cañas, 2015). These themes include salient values, skills, and behaviors of interculturally competent educators and scholars whose understanding of ethical practice is grounded in empathy, and whose work strives to embrace radical creativity in envisioning possibilities for co-creation among all participants in the teaching and/or research experience – enacting education through and for "action" via human act-ivation and, therefore, act-ivism.

The ICPPR Semi-Field/Field Testing (SF/FT) workgroup consists of several ‘writing groups’ that are focused developing technical guidance that is focused on 4 separate but related topics: 1) designing and conducting pollen and nectar residue studies, 2) conducting large scale colony feeding studies, 3) updating guidance for conducting semi-field tunnel studies, and 4) design and interpretation of full field studies with bees. What follows is the current status of each of these activities.