13251 research outputs found
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Responses and Impacts of COVID-19 on East Africa’s Tourism Industry
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected all economies and life support systems world-wide. Owing to the pandemic\u27s unpredictable nature, experts and policymakers struggle to find a headway to slow infections and further economic deterioration. The purpose of this study is to assess East African Community (EAC) states’ early responses and the pandemic’s impacts on the tourism industry. Data were collected through a review of secondary data, including academic and media reports. Special attention was paid to respective policy responses during the early stages of the pandemic outbreak. Findings show that Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda employed more robust measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, whereas Tanzania and Burundi resorted to censorship and protectionism. The EAC should quickly learn from the current crisis and devise strategies to handle future shocks to the tourism-system. The states should prioritize economic diversification, retraining of the workforce, global engagement, and collaborative management
The Erasure of Monosexism: An Exploration of Identity Development in Bisexual Women
No full textResearch has shown that bisexual individuals experience poorer mental health outcomes, resulting in depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicidal ideation, than their gay or straight counterparts (Calzo, Antonucci, Mays, & Cochran, 2011; Ross, Dobinson, & Eady, 2010; Taylor, Power, & Smith, 2020). These poor mental health outcomes suggest bisexual individuals may be experiencing hardships these other groups are not. This qualitative study sought to gain an understanding of the lived experiences of bisexual women aged 18-25. The researcher sought to gain an understanding of self-identified resiliency factors by the women as it pertains to their sexual/affectional orientation. Detailed interviews were the primary data collection method and were conducted with four women who identify as bisexual. Thematic coding was utilized to identify themes among the participants. The research explored with people who identify as bisexual what they identify as helpful or hindering in terms of identity development and acceptance. Themes identified included supportive factors, exploration/education, hindering factors, religion, assumptions that the participants were straight, as well as others. Recommendations are included for parents, teachers, and mental healthcare professionals that will aid in serving this population
Giant Topological Hall Effect in Centrosymmetric Tetragonal Mn2-xZnxSb
No full textTopological magnetism typically appears in noncentrosymmetric compounds or compounds with geometric frustration. Here, we report the effective tuning of magnetism in centrosymmetric tetragonal Mn2-xZnxSb by Zn substitution. The magnetism is found to be closely coupled to the transport properties, giving rise to a very large topological Hall effect with fine-tuning of Zn content, which even persists to high temperature (∼250K). The further magnetoentropic analysis suggests that the topological Hall effect is possibly associated with topological magnetism. Our finding suggests Mn2-xZnxSb is a candidate material for a centrosymmetric tetragonal topological magnetic system, offering opportunities for studying and tuning spin textures and developing near room temperature spin-based devices
Analysis of Gravity for the Crustal Structure of Nepal Himalaya
No full textNepal Himalaya is situated in the central portion of the seismically active Himalayan Orogenic Belt, which is geologically segmented by four major mega fault structures: Main Frontal Thrust (MFT), Main Boundary Thrust (MBT), Main Central Thrust (MCT), and the South Tibetan Detachment System (STDS). The MFT, MBT, and MCT are part of the basal decollement Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT) which accommodates the convergence between the Indian and Eurasian Plate. The 2015 Gorkha Earthquake occurred within the MHT system, MHT system itself had been seismically locked since the 1934 Nepal-Bihar Earthquake, complicating the geometry depth of MHT. Available land and airborne gravity data were used to determine the general crustal structure of Nepal. The gravity data was processed into a series of gravity anomaly maps such as complete Bouguer gravity, isostatic residual gravity, wavelength filtered gravity, and derivative gravity anomalies which revealed major tectonic boundaries, and the gravity anomalies showed the density variation of the underlying rocks. The derivative map, upward continued map and Euler’s deconvolution map indicated the depth of the MHT system ranges from 3 km and 15 km before the locking zone. The less dense area is surrounded by large dense anomaly bodies in the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake region, which can be interpreted as the causes of stress within the region. The north to the south steeper gradient indicates a steeper and deeper Moho towards the north. The geometry and exact location of the MHT profile can be revealed from a 2-D forward gravity model
Overlap Intensity: An ImageJ Macro for Analyzing the HIV-1 In Situ Uncoating Assay
No full textCapsid uncoating is at the crossroads of early steps in HIV-1 replication. In recent years, the development of novel assays has expanded how HIV-1 uncoating can be studied. In the in situ uncoating assay, dual fluorescently labelled virus allows for the identification of fused viral cores. Antibody staining then detects the amount of capsid associated with each viral core at different times post-infection. Following fixed cell imaging, manual counting can be used to assess the fusion state and capsid signal for each viral core, but this method can introduce bias with increased time of analysis. To address these limitations, we developed the Overlap Intensity macro in ImageJ. This macro automates the detection of viral cores and quantification of overlapping fusion and capsid signals. We demonstrated the high accuracy of the macro by comparing core detection to manual methods. Analysis of an in situ uncoating assay further verified the macro by detecting progressive uncoating as expected. Therefore, this macro improves the accessibility of the in situ uncoating assay by replacing time-consuming manual methods or the need for expensive data analysis software. Beyond the described assay, the Overlap Intensity macro includes adjustable settings for use in other methods requiring quantification of overlapping fluorescent signals
Developing Remote Delivery of Language and Cognitive Training for Use With Children With Autism: A Technological Report
No full textGeneralized Reflexive Responding and Cross-Modal Tactile Transfer of Stimulus Function in Children with Autism
No full textWe sought to evaluate the efficacy of successive matching training for establishing generalized reflexive matching across 4 children with autism. In Experiment 1, differential reinforcement with delay fading was efficacious in establishing yes and no matching and nonmatching responses in 2 participants when 2 identical or nonidentical picture stimuli were presented. In addition, emergent visual-visual reflexive relational responses were observed using novel picture stimuli in a transfer test phase. In Experiment 2, differential reinforcement alone was efficacious in establishing matching and nonmatching responses in the other 2 participants when 2 identical or nonidentical objects were presented. Transfer to identical objects presented through touch (i.e., tactile discrimination) was additionally observed for both participants. Procedures in the study were adapted from the PEAK Relational Training System to aid in clinical replication, and the translational results have implications for language training with individuals with autism
Zn-based physiometacomposite nanoparticles: distribution, tolerance, imaging, and antiviral and anticancer activity
No full textThe aim of this study was to investigate the distribution, tolerance, and anticancer and antiviral activity of Zn-based physiometacomposites (PMCs). Manganese, iron, nickel and cobalt-doped ZnO, ZnS or ZnSe were synthesized. Cell uptake, distribution into 3D culture and mice, and biochemical and chemotherapeutic activity were studied by fluorescence/bioluminescence, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, viability, antitumor and virus titer assays. Luminescence and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis showed that nanoparticle distribution was liver \u3espleen \u3ekidney \u3elung \u3ebrain, without tissue or blood pathology. Photophysical characterization as tissue probes and LL37 peptide, antisense oligomer or aptamer delivery targeting RAS/Ras binding domain (RBD) was investigated. Treatment at 25 μg/ml for 48 h showed ≥98-99% cell viability, 3D organoid uptake, 3-log inhibition of β-Galactosidase and porcine reproductive respiratory virus infection. Data support the preclinical development of PMCs for imaging and delivery targeting cancer and infectious disease
Developing a model of graduate teaching assistant teacher efficacy: How do high and low teacher efficacy teaching assistants compare?
No full textGraduate teaching assistants (TAs) are often responsible for teaching introductory courses to undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics students. The TAs are usually novices at teaching, and an important factor in their resilience and persistence in the face of inevitable challenges is self-efficacy. Little is known about what affects TA teacher efficacy or whether and how high- and low-efficacy TAs differ in their development as teachers. Bridging these gaps in the literature will inform best practices in developing and implementing professional development (PD) for TAs. Using a mixed-methods sequential exploratory research design, this study found differences in high- and low-efficacy TAs in both TAs’ self-reflection and their students’ perceptions. These differences concerned the focus of TAs’ attention: Inward at their own practices and emotions (salient in low-efficacy TAs) versus outward at the impact of their instructional guidance on their learners (prevalent in high-efficacy TAs). A proposed model of teacher efficacy based on TAs but generally applicable is presented to inform future research and provide suggestions for TA PD opportunities
Self-portraits of the Byelingual Immigrant
No full textThe following poems chronicle the journey of a contemporary Bangladeshi-immigrant poet living in the United States of America. Divided in three sections, the poems serve as self-portraits that peek into the complex psycholinguistics of the immigrant writing in a second language. The poet offers sketches of different aspects of his immigrant life through self portraits. While mostly autobiographical, the collection offers poems that serve as commentary on the socio-economic reality of workaholic American life. Through exploring the self as a bilingual poet, the poems serve as critiques of the socio-political systems of this country. “Self-Portraits of the Byelingual Immigrant” also includes poems written from other perspectives. The rationale for including other perspectives is influenced by the poet’s choice to offer a holistic view of immigrant life and avoid a monochromatic pastiche. Additionally, some of the poems deal with the reality of living through the COVID-19 global pandemic and address the anxiety of living without a support system in a country that the immigrant calls home. Inspired by Bharati Mukherjee’s idea of a literary orphan, the poems look at both sides of the life of an immigrant: the original home that the poet grew up in and the new home he accepted