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Sacred Sound, Public Wealth: Female Qur’an Recitation and Capital Formation in Nigeria
Get PDFThis paper explores the socio-economic significance of female Qur’an recitation in Nigeria, illuminating how public performances of sacred sound serve as potent avenues for capital formation. By focusing on Qur’an recitation competitions (musābaqāt), the study explores the complex dynamics surrounding the visibility of female reciters, particularly the challenges posed by interpretations of the female voice as ʿawra. Groups such as Izala, for instance, have prohibited their female members from participating in state and national recitation competitions.
Employing Pierre Bourdieu’s framework of cultural, social, economic, and symbolic capital, this research demonstrates how female reciters translate their embodied religious knowledge into concrete worldly advantages—accruing wealth, social prestige, and upward mobility. The ceremonial ‘turbaning’ of winners elevates these women to a neo-royal status, reflecting enduring historical and cultural continuities.
While Islamic groups like Izala restrict female participation due to concerns over modesty and public presence, other Muslim communities actively endorse and celebrate women’s involvement. These competitions not only provide marginalized women with financial rewards, social recognition, and opportunities for travel and public engagement, but also create pathways for social mobility.
Ultimately, this study highlights how female Qur’an reciters deftly navigate patriarchal expectations, subtly asserting their religious authority and reshaping the contours of contemporary Islam in Nigeria
Exploring the Relationship Between Antidepressant Treatment, Neurochemicals in the Brain and Anxiety/Depression Symptoms in Youth
Get PDFThe Pro-Apoptotic Effects of Curcumin on HCT116 Colorectal Cancer Cells
Get PDFColorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, often originating from benign polyps in the colon and rectum that may become malignant if left untreated. While current treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are effective, they often come with severe side effects that impact patient quality of life. This has spurred interest in natural compounds like curcumin, which may offer therapeutic benefits with fewer adverse effects. Curcumin, the main active compound in turmeric, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties in various studies, suggesting its potential as an adjunct therapy for CRC.
This study investigates the effects of curcumin and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), a chemotherapy drug commonly used to treat CRC, on HCT116 colorectal cancer cells. 5-FU works by inhibiting DNA synthesis, ultimately leading to cancer cell death. The cells will be treated with varying concentrations of curcumin and 5-FU, and cell viability will be assessed using MTT assays at 24 hours to evaluate treatment efficacy. Apoptotic effects will be evaluated using the eBioscience™ Annexin V Apoptosis Detection Kit, and morphological changes will be observed under a microscope. The primary goal is to determine the LD₅₀ concentration of curcumin and observe morphological changes at that concentration. This research aims to provide insights into curcumin\u27s potential as a safe adjunct or alternative to current CRC therapies. By identifying effective concentrations and comparing their effects to those of 5-FU, the study seeks to contribute to more informed treatment strategies for CRC.
Interspecific amplexus of a male Himalayan Toad, Duttaphrynus cf. himalayanus (Gunther 1864), and a female Asian Common Toad, Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider 1799), in West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Get PDFTreatise Online no. 187: Part R, Revised, Volume 1, Evolutionary history of decapod groups: Shrimp-like (natant) decapods
No full textThe Pursuit of Work-Life Balance by High School Sport Practitioners in the Athletic Director-Head Coach Dual Role
Get PDFWith wide-reaching benefits afforded student-athletes through their participation and communities investing time and resources into the promotion of meaningful athletic programs, leaders within a high school athletic department face substantial expectations within their role. For those who decide to embrace a dual role of athletic director and head coach, the increased responsibilities facilitate greater levels of role conflict and role overload that can negatively impact the ability to achieve work-life balance within one’s personal life if not properly addressed. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to examine the strategies employed by these high school sport dual role practitioners for pursuing work-life balance. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants represented across school classification (i.e., 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A) and sport coached, and a thematic analysis yielded three main themes (i.e., recognizing the challenge, setting boundaries, and incorporating family into work) that detail the efforts implemented for work-life balance. From a theoretical perspective, findings add further insight into the impact of role conflict and role overload on work-life balance, especially in the context of high school athletics, while practitioners in the athletic director-head coach dual role can use the perspectives shared by participants to ensure they are effectively balancing their professional and personal life amidst these role demands
The American Black Press and Late Imperial Russia
Get PDFIn early western accounts, Russia was distinctly oppressive, a state characterized by tyranny, barbarism, and Mongolian influence. But these accounts were faulty. They were written by merchants, diplomats, and explorers, wealthy white men who had never experienced the repression they witnessed in Russia. When Black Americans looked to Russia, however, they saw a place fundamentally similar to the United States. By tracing the coverage of Russia in the American Black press from 1827 to 1917, this paper argues that the connections between slavery and serfdom drove Black attitudes toward late Imperial Russia, making Black accounts reflective of circumstances in the United States, Russia, and the Black press itself.