50716 research outputs found
Sort by
Networked Harassment of Journalists in Nigeria:Motivations, Coping Strategies and Solutions
No full textIn many newsrooms around the world, safety issues have become popularconcerns of both journalists and media organisations. Recent attacks against journalists in Nigeria have shown that anti-press violence is exacerbating, as there has been a noticeable shift beyond trolling and other acute online harassment practices to more insidious, chronic, and escalatory forms of violence (e.g., the burning of media houses and the physical assault of journalists). While studies (Holton et al., 2023; Lewis et al., 2021; Marwick, 2021; Uwalaka & Amadi, 2023a) have focused on the online harassment of journalists, many have focused on the gendered aspects of the attacks or the online harassment experience itself (Bombi et al., 2023; Burch et al., 2024; Uwalaka & Amadi, 2023b, 2023c; Zviyita & Mare, 2023)
Unpacking the social fabric of creative souvenirs: Understanding value perception among Chinese youth
No full textCreative souvenirs, blending cultural significance with tangible products, are popular among Chinese youth, presenting a novel research avenue. This study uses a multi-method qualitative approach to explore the perceived value and influence of these souvenirs. Findings reveal five key value dimensions (functional, emotional, social, epistemic, and conditional), with social value emerging as the central dimension. This study proposes a theoretical model where social value, conceptualised as the maintenance and building of social ties, functions as the core mechanism linking the remaining four dimensions through distinct internal (micro-level interpersonal relationships) and external (macro-level connections to culture and community) relational ties. Theoretically, the study advances consumption value theory by demonstrating social value's pivotal, connective role within this specific cultural and product context. These findings illuminate creative souvenirs' multifaceted appeal and impact on consumer perceptions and behaviour, offering practical insights for marketing and managing cultural attractions
A B-Spline Function Based 3D Point Cloud Flattening Scheme for 3D Fingerprint Recognition and Identification
No full text3D fingerprint-based recognition and identification have several advantages compared to conventional 2D recognition systems. It is hygienic and secure due to its contactless sample collection. In addition to surface pattern, depth, curvature, and shape information can also be retrieved from 3D fingerprints which can be implemented for designing a more accurate and secure authentication system. While significant progress has been made recently, one of the great challenging issues is the fingerprint pixel’s topological height makes it difficult to extract fingerprint ridge/valley patterns. To address this issue, in this article, the 3D fingerprint represented in 3D point cloud format is flattened using the B-spline curve fitting technique to reduce the impact of the pixel’s topological height. The flattened point cloud is converted to a gray-scale image by using the relative height of the points in the flattened 3D point cloud. The generated gray-scale image is used for recognition via using a conventional 2D fingerprint identification method. The proposed method achieved an Equal Error Rate of 0.2974%, 0.28%, and 0.24% in three experiments, respectively, which is significantly more accurate than the existing methods.</p
Conceptualizing the use of AI in Project Management in terms of People, Process, Data, Technology and Continuous Improvement (2PDTC)
No full textRecent advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have significantly impacted various domains and industries. While some research has explored AI's role in project management, a comprehensive framework to facilitate this transition remains absent. The prevailing perspective on AI implementation emphasizes achieving project results with greater efficiency and effectiveness. This study aims to conceptualize the application of AI in conjunction with people, processes, data, technology, and continuous improvement (2PDTC), to better structure this phenomenon. The primary research question of this study is: How can the use of AI positively contribute to PM activities? This ongoing paper proposes a framework for examining AI's utilization by project managers. This framework will provide a solid foundation for exploring the research question, addressing the gaps in existing academic literature, and guiding data collection and analysis
Molecular impact of metabolic and endocrine disturbance on endometrial function in polycystic ovary syndrome
No full textPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a systemic metabolic and endocrine disorder that significantly disrupts reproductive physiology and endometrial function. In this narrative review, we examine the molecular impact of metabolic and hormonal imbalances on the endometrium of women with PCOS. We investigate the specific mechanisms that delineate how hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, chronic low-grade inflammation, and estrogen/progesterone/androgen imbalance contribute to altered epigenetic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, and signaling profiles in a wide array of different cell types within endometrial tissues. The synergistic interplay between upregulated inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-1,2,6,8,17,18, and TNF-α), along with key changes in critical molecular pathways associated with hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance (e.g., PI3K/AKT/MAPK, and Wnt/β-catenin), in addition to aberrant sex steroid hormone signaling (e.g., CYP19A1, COX-2, PGE 2, HOXA10, 11βHSD2), promotes deleterious changes within the endometrial microenvironment. These anomalies underpin a spectrum of clinical manifestations observed in women with PCOS at each stage of the life course, including abnormal uterine bleeding in reproductive-age women, impaired decidualization in pregnancy, and altered postmenopausal endometrial physiology. Clinically, these alterations are associated with abnormal uterine bleeding, subfertility, implantation failure, miscarriage, pregnancy complications, and postmenopausal endometrial hyperplasia and cancer. Overall, our review provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms linking systemic metabolic and endocrine dysfunction with endometrial pathology in PCOS and has broader implications that apply to all women.</p
Menu Assessment Tools Used in Residential Aged Care:A Scoping Review of Content and Quality
No full textThis scoping review aimed to identify and synthesise existing publicly available tools that support menu assessments for residential aged care settings, specifically the tools content areas, recommendations and quality. The scoping review was conducted according to Levac et al. scoping review methodology and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Menu assessment tools were identified through grey literature through Google and Google Scholar search engines using key terms such as ‘residential aged care’ and ‘menu assessment’. Data were synthesised and reported narratively, according to content areas of menu planning, nutritional basis of the menu, texture modification/fluid consistency, therapeutic and special diets and foodservice management recommendations. Quality appraisal was conducted using the Appraisal of Guidelines for REsearch & Evaluation Instrument. Seventeen tools from seven countries were included. There was variability in the content and recommendations, with no included tool covering all content areas. The overall quality ranged from two to six (out of seven), and no tools met the quality criteria to be recommended for use in their current form. The lack of consistency in content areas, recommendations and quality of tools indicates the need to modify existing tools or to conduct research to support the development of a new evidence-based tool. Future research is needed to gain consensus on acceptable content areas, appropriate recommendations and to develop an evidence-base to underpin the tools. A purpose-built, evidence-based tool is essential for consistent foodservice evaluation and for improving food and nutrition standards, ultimately enhancing resident outcomes.</p
Temporal variations and spatial clusters of diarrheal diseases before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Jakarta province, Indonesia
Get PDFBACKGROUND: Diarrheal diseases continue to be an important public health problem in developing countries including Indonesia, possibly made worse by COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study aimed to outline the epidemiology of diarrheal diseases in Jakarta Province in Indonesia.METHODS: The diarrhoeal data from 2018 to 2021 were obtained from the Epidemiological Surveillance Unit, Jakarta Provincial Health Office. Seasonal and trend decomposition using Loess was used to analyse the temporal analysis. The Local Indicators for Spatial Association was used to detect spatial clustering of diarrheal cases at the sub-district level. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to study the association between diarrhoea and climatic factors.RESULTS: Diarrheal diseases were highly seasonal with cases peaking in the beginning of each year. The diarrheal diseases incidence showed an increase from 2018, peaking in 2020, and then gradually decreasing until middle 2021, and it slightly increased towards the end of 2021. High-risk sub-districts of diarrhoea were observed in Kalideres and Cengkareng throughout the study period. Additionally, there was a spatial variation of cases across the province with hotspots located in sub-districts in the western part of the province in the peri-urban region. Diarrhoea decreased by 17.0% (RR = 0.83,95% CI = 0.83-0.84) for 1 °C increase in average temperature. Similarly, diarrhoea decreased by 3.0% (RR = 0.97,95%CI = 0.97-0.97) and 27.0% (RR = 0.73, 95%CI = 0.72-0.73) for 1% in average humidity and 1 m/s wind speed. Meanwhile, diarrhoea increased by 3% (RR = 1.03, 95%CI = 1.02-1.03) and 1% (RR = 1.01, 95%CI = 1.01-1.01) in 1 h duration of sunshine per week and 1 mm increase average rainfall respectively.CONCLUSION: Several sub-districts demonstrated disease clusters which indicate the area has a significantly higher risk. In addition, climatic factors were associated with diarrheal incidence. Interventions such as environmental and climatic adaptation and climatic data monitoring need to be carried out in areas that have a high risk as an early warning system.</p
I trust my ‘good neighbour’:Why people trust local news
No full textDespite growing recognition of the importance of understanding trust in news, few studies have focused specifically on local news. To address this gap, we investigated the reasons underlying trust in local news from an audience perspective. We analysed 5395 open-text responses from an online survey of Australian adults. Using content analysis, we identified eight factors influencing trust in local news. In line with existing news media trust research, factors of journalistic standards and quality, less bias, less agenda-driven, reputation of the news organisation, and relevance at a personal level were considered important. We uncovered factors unique to local news, including local relevance and accountability, local verifiability, and benevolence for the community. These factors were especially important to older audiences and those living in regional areas. Findings highlight the importance of relational trust – trust built on emotional and social bonds between news providers and audiences – in the local news context.</p