1,365 research outputs found
Khoo Kay Kim, professor of Malaysian history : a biobibliometric study
No full textPresents an analysis of the publication productivity, authorship pattern, channels of communication, journal preference and language preference of Professor Dato' Khoo Kay Kim, Professor of Malaysian History in the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. The results of this biobibliometric study indicate that he can be a role model for future Malaysian historians to emulate his various achievements especially in the field of history education
Mouse click plagiarism: can technology help to fight back?
No full textMany students arrive at university accustomed to adopting the internet as their primary source of information, but with no prior experience of referencing. This raises issues of the reliability and validity of digital sources, as well as bringing new opportunities for cheating. The internet has made plagiarism quicker and easier; a student simply needs to click the mouse to copy and paste sections of text. The author is interested in the process of academic writing and how, if the text is constructed by a couple of clicks, learning may be limited. This small scale study explores students’ perceptions, knowledge and experience of referencing, plagiarism and the text-matching software, Turnitin. Using an online survey and focus groups, the practitioner endeavours to see if technology can be used to deter plagiarism and enhance the student learning experience. The study concludes that, while students superficially understand plagiarism, they struggle with the importance and conventions of referencing. Students require (and expect) early and appropriate educational support to adopt the cultural norms of higher education and learn the process of reading, analysing, synthesising and acknowledging the work of others. Turnitin has limitations, but it does appear to be effective at deterring plagiarism and has the potential to be a learning tool, if introduced and used appropriately
Blueberries improve biomarkers of cardiometabolic function in participants with metabolic syndrome-results from a 6-month, double-blind, randomized controlled trial.
No full textBACKGROUND: Anthocyanin-rich blueberry intake is associated with reduced type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in prospective studies, although long-term randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have not been conducted in at-risk populations. OBJECTIVE: In the longest-duration RCT to date, we examined the effect of 6-mo blueberry intake on insulin resistance and cardiometabolic function in metabolic syndrome. METHODS: A double-blind, parallel RCT (n = 115; age 63 ± 7 y; 68% male; body mass index 31.2 ± 3.0 kg/m2) was conducted, which fed 2 dietarily achievable blueberry intakes [equivalent to 1/2 and 1 cup/d (75/150 g)] compared with matched placebo. Insulin resistance was assessed via the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (primary endpoint) and confirmed by [6-6-2H2]-glucose-labeled, 2-step hyperinsulinemic clamp (n = 20). Clinically relevant cardiometabolic endpoints [including flow-mediated dilatation, augmentation index, lipoprotein status (by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy), and nitric oxide (NO)-related metabolite assay] and anthocyanin metabolism were assessed. RESULTS: A daily intake of 1 cup of blueberries improved endothelial function (flow-mediated dilatation: +1.45%; 95% CI: 0.83%, 2.1%; P = 0.003), systemic arterial stiffness (augmentation index: -2.24%; 95% CI: -3.97%, -0.61%; P = 0.04) and attenuated cyclic guanosine monophosphate concentrations. In statin nonusers (n = 71), elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (+0.08 mmol/L; P = 0.03), high-density lipoprotein particle density (+0.48n, ×10-6; P = 0.002) and apolipoprotein A-I (+0.05 g/L; P = 0.01) concentrations were observed following the 1-cup/d intervention. Treatment compliance was 94.1% (wrapper returns) and total concentrations of anthocyanin-derived phenolic acid metabolites significantly increased, dose-dependently, in serum and 24-h urine (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). Insulin resistance, pulse wave velocity, blood pressure, NO, and overall plasma thiol status were unaffected. Likewise, a half cup per day had no effect on any biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: Despite insulin resistance remaining unchanged we show, to our knowledge, the first sustained improvements in vascular function, lipid status, and underlying NO bioactivity following 1 cup blueberries/d. With effect sizes predictive of 12-15% reductions in CVD risk, blueberries should be included in dietary strategies to reduce individual and population CVD risk. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02035592
The Great Barrier Reef: The chronological record from a new borehole
No full textA new borehole, 210 mbsf (meters below sea floor) deep, drilled in Ribbon Reef 5 on the Great Barrier Reef off Cooktown, NE Australia, reveals a shallowing-upwards succession, the younger part of which is punctuated by a series of erosion surfaces. Nine depositional units have been defined by lithological changes and are numbered sequentially from the base of the hole upwards. Aminostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, radiocarbon dating, uranium series dating, and modeling together with strontium ratios have been applied in an attempt to establish a chronology of accumulation.
Carbonate deposition began about 770 ka ago in a relatively deep-water slope environment and is represented by a series of debris flows. Lithoclasts within these rocks, indicate that older limestones already existed in the area. Subsequent accretion involved the downslope accumulation of grainstones and wackestones, sometimes cross-laminated, characterized by intervals with abundant rhodoliths and scattered, probably reworked, corals. Four units at the base of the hole reflect deposition that probably began during isotope stage 16 and continued through stage 15 from about 770 to about 564 ka. Unit 5 probably extended to stage 11 (about 400 ka), and unit 6 to stage 9 (∼ 330 ka).
Typical reefal associations of corals and calcareous algae were established in this area only above depths of about 100 m in the borehole, units 5-4. The succession is apparently unbroken to an erosion surface at 36 mbsf indicating subaerial emergence. The lack of evidence of emergence below this surface reflects progressive accretion or progradation or both. Two younger erosion surfaces define further periods of lowered sea level. Unit 7 is attributed to deposition during isotope stage 7, but erosion during stage 8 resulted in the preservation of only 8 m of unit 7 limestones. Unit 8 is correlated with stage 5 (∼125 ka), and unit 9 is interpreted as Holocene (post 7,700 ka). The limited thicknesses of units 7, 8, and 9 are considered to reflect erosion. The progressive shallowing brought the depositional surface within the zone exposed during lowstands, and there is no sedimentological evidence that aggradation was restricted by a lack of accommodation
The other side of the social web: A taxonomy for social information access
No full textThe power of the modern Web, which is frequently called the Social Web or Web 2.0, is frequently traced to the power of users as contributors of various kinds of contents through Wikis, blogs, and resource sharing sites. However, the community power impacts not only the production of Web content, but also the access to all kinds of Web content. A number of research groups worldwide explore what we call social information access techniques that help users get to the right information using "collective wisdom" distilled from actions of those who worked with this information earlier. This invited talk offers a brief introduction into this important research stream and reviews recent works on social information access performed at the University of Pittsburgh's PAWS Lab lead by the author. Copyright © 2012 by the Association for Computing Machinery, Inc. (ACM)
The Privatisation of New Zealand Rail
No full textThe methodology for the study involves determining the nature and amount of economic welfare gains and losses resulting from the privatisation of New Zealand Rail, and the incidence among groups in society. The study measures the welfare change that is attributable to the change of ownership. To do this, the study assesses actual economic results against three “counterfactuals” - analyses of what would have happened if NZ Rail had stayed in public ownership. The study finds that welfare has increased from the privatisation of rail. This reflects the remarkable improvement in productivity that took place. It finds that government and taxpayers gained the most from privatisation because of the elimination of their commitment to funding rail losses under public ownership. For instance, it cost taxpayers over $1.1 billion to support NZ Rail between 1983 and 1993, and since the 1880s rail was corporatised five times under state ownership and each time the reorganisation failed to deliver a sustainable improvement. This paper has four parts: Part 1 - The Privatisation of New Zealand Rail ; Part 2 - Labour and Technology ; Part 3 - Quantitative Cost Benefit Analysis ; Part 4 - Owner Net Revenue: Government and Private
Pluralist and Socialist Democracy in New York City's Lower East Side: An Analysis of a Multi-Paradigmatic Model and Neighborhoor Transformation
No full textvi, 47 p.The adversarial relationship of the pluralist
and socialist democratic theories characterizes the
study of democracy as well as the study of urban politics.
The author describes that relationship and then
outlines a model which purports to ameliorate its adversarial
aspects. Using the model to analyze two
instances of neighborhood transformation on the Lower
East Side of New York City, the author evaluates the
efficacy of the model and its outcomes. Finally,
he notes the model's deficiencies and suggests a
direction for further research.If you are not a current K College student, faculty, or staff member, email [email protected] to request access to this SIP.List of Figures and Tables -- Acknowledgments -- Abstract -- Introduction: Political Science and the Paradigm Dilemma -- Overview of the Two Perspectives -- A Synthesis of Theory for Better Research -- The Neighborhood: New York City's Lower East Side -- The Research Method -- A Research Note -- Transformation: A New Senior Citizen's Project and the Question of Race -- Transformation: The Artist's housing Controversy and the Question of Gentrification -- Conclusion: Hypotheses Revision and Bettered Research -- Appendix: A Community Proposal to Preserve and Develop New York City's Lower East Side -- Selected Bibliograph
Emotional abuse in sport: A case study of trichotillomania in a prepubescent female gymnast
No full textThis article is made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund. Copyright @ 2013 Gervis M, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and
source are credited.Despite improved legislation in most countries, child abuse in sport continues to exist but is a problem which is often under reported or ignored. In elite sport ‘suffering’ is not uncommon and hence sometimes child abuse is sometimes unrecognised, de-emphasised or easily dismissed as part of a collective experience that is perceived to be necessary to ‘create’ elite athletes. However, even swearing, anger, raised voices and negative comments directed at child athletes by coaches is considered abuse and can, when regular and routine, cause long term wellbeing and health issues. Self-harm can be a consequence and here self-harm in the form of trichotillomania, self hair-pulling, is reported for the first time as a secondary consequence of abuse. The 12 year old female gymnast, subject of this case study, presented with this impulse control disorder as defined by the American Psychiatric Association and was successfully treated using cognitive behavioural therapy. However, the training environment, including coach behaviour, did not change and so the gymnast remained at risk of recurrence of self-harm. Such environments in sport have many characteristics in common with and reminiscent of religious cults; sacrifice, isolation, shared obsession, a charismatic leader, and often in the presence of severe calorie restriction. As a consequence of ageing, growth, injury and an unchanging abusive environment, a year later the gymnast retired from the sport
Chapter 6. Pharmacokinetics
No full textWith the recently increased accessibility of synthetic reference standards, advanced mass spectrometry platforms, and evidence from isotopically labeled ‘tracer’ and ileostomy studies, a comprehensive understanding of anthocyanin bioavailability is coming to fruition. The once general belief that anthocyanins are poorly absorbed has been disproven as recent studies have revealed significant absorption of microbial-derived anthocyanin metabolites, identifying a much higher bioavailability than previously reported. Correspondingly, anthocyanin research is undergoing a paradigm shift, focusing on microbial-driven anthocyanin pharmacokinetics, the impact of anthocyanins on microbiome diversity, and the differential bioactivity of microbial-derived metabolites
Institutional and policy analysis of river basin management: the Fraser River Basin, Canada
No full textThe authors describe and analyze a nongovernmental, multi-stakeholder, consensus-based approach to river basin management in the Fraser River basin in Canada. The Fraser River drains 238,000 km2 of British Columbia, supporting nearly 3 million residents and a diverse economy. Water management issues include water quality and allocation, flood protection, and emerging scarcity concerns in portions of the basin. The Fraser Basin Council (FBC) is a locally-initiated nongovernmental organization (NGO) with representation from public and private stakeholders. Since evolving in the 1990s from earlier programs and projects in the basin, FBC has pursued several objectives related to a broad concept of basin"sustainability"incorporating social, economic, and environmental aspects. The NGO approach has allowed FBC to match the boundaries of the entire basin, avoid some intergovernmental turf battles, and involve First Nations communities and private stakeholders in ways governmental approaches sometimes find difficult. While its NGO status means that FBC cannot implement many of the plans it agrees on and must constantly work to maintain diverse yet stable funding, FBC holds substantial esteem among basin stakeholders for its reputation for objectivity, its utility as an information sharing forum, and its success in fostering an awareness of interdependency within the basin.Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Water Conservation,Environmental Economics&Policies,Water and Industry,Sanitation and Sewerage,Water Supply and Sanitation Governance and Institutions,Drought Management,Town Water Supply and Sanitation,Water and Industry,Water Conservation
- …
