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Building a trustworthy research environment: Challenges and solutions to predatory publishing.
No full textPublishing and evaluation with peer review at its core are essential components of the scientific endeavor. Yet traditional academic publishing models, research evaluation and peer-review systems have never been entirely immune from exploitation and malpractice, with the risk of compromising the integrity of research and making the scholarly communication system vulnerable to overt commercial predation. While the digitization of scholarly communication and ongoing development of open access models have undoubtedly revolutionized many aspects of scientific endeavor – creating exciting new avenues for the access, dissemination and production of knowledge - they have also, in some ways, exacerbated this predation. Shifting paradigms of research communication, evaluation, peer review, institutional rankings, metrics and business models, have created more space for predatory academic practices to take root and thrive
Hepatitis B Vaccination Status and KAP towards Hepatitis B Virus among Medical Students at Green Hope University Branch of Beledweyne
No full textTransforming Academic Literacy: Centering Indigenous Identities in the Classroom
No full textThis article is situated within the field of academic literacy.This article explores the transformational potential of centering indigenous
identities and heritage within academic literacy instruction in higher education. The dominance of Eurocentric pedagogies in higher education has often marginalized African epistemologies and cultural narratives, limiting students’ engagement and sense of belonging. Drawing on examples such as the Ma’at and Tewahedo traditions, this work argues that academic literacy should embrace Indigenous Knowledge Systems and the cultural capital students bring to the classroom. By integrating indigenous identities into disciplinary discourses, educators can create more inclusive learning environments that
challenge historical power dynamics and elevate marginalized voices. This analysis highlights practical strategies for educators to foster critical thinking, reading, and writing while affirming students’ identities. Ultimately, this article demonstrates that activating Indigenous Knowledge Systems can create classrooms that are inclusive and reflective of African identities
Colonial racialism is the cause of the conflict in eastern DRC, not minerals
No full textThe American NGO IRC (International Rescue Committee) and the UN Group of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and other Forms of Wealth in the Democratic Republic of Congo created by the UN in 2000 'under pressure from French diplomacy' contributed immensely in imposing the negationist narrative of the exploitation of Congolese minerals as the cause of the conflict and extreme violence, and this narrative succeeded in replacing the indignation aroused until then by the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in 1994 in Rwanda and its persistent threats.
It's horrifying to see how the international community is concerned about protecting and defending the minerals of the DRC, while displaying a monstrous insensitivity in the face of people who are systematically persecuted, who are tortured, who are killed and whose flesh is eaten in broad daylight and in front of the cameras, simply because they are of Tutsi origin or suspected of being such.
The first genocide against the Tutsi committed by Belgium from 1959 was whitewashed into 'social revolution' and many Western knowledge producers in the media and even in the research community have normalized it to this day. I have referred to this latter category in my previous articles as 'criminal scholars'. The persistent genocidal attacks and threats against Rwanda and the Congolese Batutsi since 1994 to date are equally whitewashed as false pretexts to conceal the expansionist and predatory ambitions of a phantasmagoric Hima-Tutsi empire allegedly 'in the pay of Western imperialists', and the same Western knowledge producers validate the narrative; whether mainstream media, UN experts or so-called researchers.
Colonial racialism is the cause of the conflict in eastern DRC, not minerals. There has always been a permanent threat from Westerners to destroy all effective and genuine African governance on the continent using Africans who chose to adhere to the colonial ideology of antagonistic African ‘races’. If they were reasonable, Westerners should also stop blackmailing Rwanda with aid and instead think about reparations. Rwanda does not need to demand this reparation. It has rebuilt itself and will rebuild itself with or without it. On the other hand, these Western countries and organizations need to take this action for their own redemption
APPLICATIONS OF CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORKS (CNNS) IN MEDICAL IMAGE SECURITY
Full text linkThe rapid growth of digital healthcare systems has led to an increasing reliance on medical imaging for diagnosis and treatment, raising significant concerns regarding data security and patient privacy. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), a class of deep learning algorithms renowned for their exceptional performance in image analysis, have emerged as powerful tools for enhancing medical image security. This abstract explores the diverse applications of CNNs in securing medical images, including encryption, authentication, watermarking, and anomaly detection. CNNs can learn complex patterns and features, enabling robust image encryption techniques that protect data against unauthorized access and tampering. Additionally, CNN-based watermarking ensures data integrity and authentication without compromising image quality, while their ability to detect subtle anomalies helps identify potential security breaches. The integration of CNNs in medical image security not only improves data protection but also ensures compliance with stringent healthcare regulations, safeguarding patient confidentiality in the digital era. This paper highlights recent advancements, challenges, and future directions in leveraging CNNs for comprehensive medical image security solutions
Kukabiliana na Mfumo-ikolojia na Suluhu za Wenyeji kwa Mabadiliko ya Tabianchi nchini Kenya na Afrika
No full textHow can nature help us adapt to climate change? This blog dives into Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA), showcasing real-world examples of how communities in Kenya and Africa are using indigenous knowledge and natural solutions to build resilience while protecting biodiversity.This blog series explores the critical role of Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EbA) and Indigenous Knowledge Systems in addressing climate change across Kenya and Africa. Through four insightful blogs, we delve into EbA principles, highlight the deep-rooted wisdom of Indigenous communities in shaping sustainable adaptation strategies, and examine the synergy between EbA and biodiversity conservation. The series also showcases community-led initiatives, emphasizing the power of local engagement in fostering climate resilience. By weaving together scientific approaches and traditional ecological knowledge, this series aims to inform, inspire, and advocate for nature-based solutions tailored to Africa’s unique environmental and socio-cultural landscape
Alternative to Incompressible Flow Analogy
No full textThis paper is a physics theoretical paper that introduces an alternative fluid analogy that can be used in visualizing the electromagnetic field.This paper revisits the fluid analogy for electromagnetic field theory, introducing an alternative model based on a constant fluid velocity and an electric analogy with the fluid density momentum. Unlike Maxwell's divergence of velocity fluid analogy, our approach relies on constant velocity (serving as an analogy to the speed of field) to drive the flow, providing a more direct analogy to field interactions and propagation. We develop this framework in detail, exploring the dynamics of fluid flow in a void, the oscillatory flow of the fluid from a perpendicular oscillatory motion of the source, and the effects of relative motion between source and observer. Our analysis yields a novel perspective on electromagnetic field theory, offering insights into fluid as a continuum and the connections between field theory and fluid dynamics. This work has implications for both physics and engineering, and provides a foundation for potential applications in physics and beyond
Analyse qualitative des conséquences inattendues d'une intervention de transfert monétaire conditionnel basé sur l'argent mobile pour encourager l'utilisation des soins de santé dans le sud de Madagascar
No full textIntroduction :
Les interventions de transfert d'argent, y compris celles utilisant l'argent mobile, sont de plus en plus répandues, en particulier en Afrique subsaharienne. Comme ces interventions peuvent avoir des conséquences inattendues positives et négatives importantes, des analyses supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour identifier ces conséquences.
Méthodes :
Nous avons étudié les conséquences inattendues d'une intervention de transfert monétaire conditionnel basé sur l'argent mobile mise en œuvre dans quinze établissements de santé du sud de Madagascar. L'intervention a offert une couverture partielle des coûts pour les patients cherchant des soins pour des conditions potentiellement mortelles, des accidents et des blessures, des soins maternels ou pédiatriques entre février 2021 et juin 2022. Nous avons effectué une analyse qualitative des entretiens approfondis avec les prestataires de soins de santé, les bénéficiaires de l'intervention et le personnel chargé de la mise en œuvre du projet en utilisant une analyse thématique réflexive.
Résultats :
Nous avons identifié trois conséquences inattendues positives et trois conséquences inattendues négatives de l'intervention. Les principales conséquences positives inattendues sont : i) l'amélioration de la qualité des soins, ii) l'amélioration des relations interpersonnelles, y compris entre les patients et les prestataires et entre les prestataires de soins, et iii) le développement des compétences numériques des prestataires de soins et l'augmentation de la confiance dans l'argent mobile. Les trois principales conséquences négatives que nous avons identifiées sont : i) la surpopulation des établissements, ii) l'augmentation du coût des soins et iii) les cas d'emprisonnement à l'hôpital.
Conclusions :
Les concepteurs et les responsables de la mise en œuvre des futures interventions de transfert d'argent mobile devraient examiner attentivement et chercher de manière proactive à tirer parti des conséquences positives et à atténuer les conséquences négatives inattendues des interventions de transfert monétaire conditionnel basé sur l'argent mobile pour les soins de santé, telles que celles mises en évidence dans notre travail.La coopération allemande a sponsorisé l'intervention analysée dans cette étude pour le développement international (GIZ). Une subvention de la Fondation Theracur a spécifiquement soutenu les activités de recherche
Research Software: A Key (Neglected) Component of the Digital Research Infrastructure Ecosystem
Full text linkTechnological advances have elevated the importance of digital research infrastructure across the research lifecycle. The growing complexity of the digital research infrastructure ecosystem gave rise to new standards, practices, and job roles requiring unique and specialised skill sets. Research software is a critical component of this ecosystem. Despite the proliferation of research software initiatives across all disciplines in South Africa, a decade-old global movement to study and advocate for research software and its developers has largely been overlooked locally, resulting in missed opportunities. By actively engaging in international research software efforts, South Africa can benefit significantly and contribute meaningfully.While writing this paper PvH was funded by Gates Foundation Grant INV-046492_2022 and NIH Grant 1U24AI183840-01. SP is part of the eLwazi Open Data Science Platform supported by National Institutes of Health (OD), National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering NIH award number 1 U2C EB 032224. The content of this article is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health