23 research outputs found
Subverting digital tools : empowering marginalized communities in the built environment
No full textDesign problems in the built environment are growing increasingly complex, prompting architects to use emerging computational tools to integrate diverse sources of contextual information. This trend, accelerated by resource scarcity and climate urgency, often exacerbates existing power imbalances, biases, and injustices in a socioeconomic context that prioritizes mass consumption and endless production. The rise of machine learning, with its potential to process information far beyond human capacity, poses additional risks to historically neglected communities. Moreover, the prevalence of autonomous systems has resulted in a technological landscape dominated by complex, opaque systems, making critical analysis challenging. This paper explores how critical social computing practices can subvert digital tools to empower marginalized communities. It identifies two primary approaches: bottom-up and top-down. In the bottomup approach, practitioners engage directly with local communities through critical pedagogy, facilitating workshops to help communities identify and tackle issues using digital tools. They recognize that communities are capable of integrating new technologies, given the age of ubiquitous computing, but are often hindered by the paternalistic biases of outside experts. By repositioning themselves to avoid such biases, practitioners equip communities with the necessary tools, skills, and understanding of digital technologies. This empowerment enables communities to advocate through counter-mapping and localized forms of multimodal, community-generated data. Conversely, the top-down approach involves practitioners using their expertise and resources to highlight injustices and influence policy through counter-mapping and curating counter-data. Practitioners use these tools to identify gaps, contradictions, and flaws in current technological systems related to the city, advocating for transparency. Their knowledge of the city and training allows them to combat these gaps effectively, often through critical artifacts in the form of exhibits, infographics, maps, and tools for critical inquiry aimed at sparking discourse among peers, the public, or institutions. This method does not necessarily involve direct engagement with local communities but seeks to persuade decision-makers to enact structural change. Central to this paper's thesis is the idea that every novel, innovative digital tool offers creative potential for subversion. Practitioners understand that these tools can be appropriated to challenge existing structures and norms, enabling new forms of resilience and advocacy. By analyzing case studies, this paper argues that both approaches-bottom-up and top-down-carry risks and potential for significant change. Understanding the motivations and inquiries that lead to the appropriation of digital tools can allow future practitioners to critically engage with new algorithmic systems. This engagement can subvert the opaque mechanisms of these systems through critical computing practices, ultimately empowering local communities. The findings underscore the importance of leveraging digital tools not just for innovation, but for fostering equity and justice in the built environment
Critical social computing for digital design
No full textAdvancements in computational technology have ushered in a new era of architectural design, characterized by the integration of digital tools. However, this rapid pace of technological innovation has also widened the digital divide, making advanced design solutions less accessible, particularly in underprivileged regions and marginalized communities. Meanwhile, data and algorithmic processes profoundly impact the post-digital built environment. With increasingly complex problems of the built environment, such communities are at risk unless this gap is addressed. This paper underscores the significance of regional computing systems, referred to as social computers, and their emergence in addressing these disparities. To allow architects and experts to act as facilitators of resilience and transformation, critical social computing for design is proposed as a strategy to develop meaningful collaborative practices through digital tools. Through illuminating case studies, instances are identified where architects and experts collaborate as co-coders of social computing, fostering bottom-up approaches to address increasingly intricate challenges in a post-digital world
The Brick Screen : parametric approach to traditional Pakistani jali within the digital divide
No full textWith concerns regarding climate and need for more sustainable practices, practitioners try to appropriate advance design tools for their efficient problem-solving capabilities. In regions like Pakistan, architects are met with challenges of the digital divide due to which they must improvise and develop hybrid methodologies, bridging the gaps between digital tools and analogue construction techniques. While it imposes a limit on the selection of tools, it leads to new opportunities to embed performative qualities and novel tectonics in region specific material systems.
In this paper, authors explain the process and challenges behind a recent large scale parametric brick façade titled the Brick Screen in Karachi, Pakistan designed and fabricated for the ACPKHI (Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi) in 2022. Challenges consisted of local perceptions of risk, cost, skeptical attitudes regarding technology, and lack of existing examples of parametric design within the region. By using parametric design tools in a contextually grounded manner and optimization for manual fabrication, the architects were able to reintroduce the idea of the traditional jali (hence the name Brick Screen based on the Urdu word jali - جالی ) which existed as an ornamental, climatically efficient device in the region interfacing with sunlight, natural ventilation, and privacy. Parametric design tools such as Grasshopper (a parametric design plugin for Rhino3D) helped develop not only brick patterns based on sunlight, spatial functions, and ornamentation, but a secondary script helped translate and optimize the generated patterns into human-readable fabrication drawings. This allowed linking of digital design process with existing construction practices that architects and stakeholders were familiar with. Constraints of manual brick masonry led to abstraction of thousands of bricks into simple sequences (or chal - چال as understood in colloquial construction terms), resulting in an efficient, economically feasible assembly process on site.
The project sets a precedent in the region for working at extremes of the digital divide and digital tools as means to transform existing practices. By using materials and building systems which are already accessible, digital tools can embed additional performative qualities in brick in a contemporary and regionally sensitive manner without the cost barriers of advanced materials or fabrication systems. Without access to advanced fabrication platforms ideal for transforming local practices at a fundamental level, architects can still work within limitations of technology, practice, and industry to achieve solutions that are more appropriate for the future
From Info Seeker to Startup Superhero: How Information Literacy Influences Entrepreneurial Intention and Skills Among Business Students
No full textAbstract
This study examined the effects of information literacy (IL) on entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial skills among business students in Sargodha, Pakistan. A quantitative research design was employed along with a survey method. The data were gathered using a structured and self-administered questionnaire to collect data from a sample of 277 students, recruited through a convenient sampling process. Data analysis involved the application of descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS (Version 21). The results suggested that the business students’ IL levels were not optimal, with no significant differences noted based on age, gender, semester, and academic disciplines. However, IL skills showed a positive correlation with students’ CGPA. The results also showed that IL had a positive effect on entrepreneurial intentions and entrepreneurial skills. In essence, students with higher levels of IL tended to exhibit better entrepreneurial intention and skills compared to those with lower IL levels. These results inform educators and policymakers in shaping policies and practices for business education in general and entrepreneurial education in particular. This research would be a valuable addition to the existing body of knowledge on IL research in the context of academia in general and business and entrepreneurial education in particular, as a limited number of studies have appeared in the existing literature.Abstract
This study examined the effects of information literacy (IL) on entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial skills among business students in Sargodha, Pakistan. A quantitative research design was employed along with a survey method. The data were gathered using a structured and self-administered questionnaire to collect data from a sample of 277 students, recruited through a convenient sampling process. Data analysis involved the application of descriptive and inferential statistics in SPSS (Version 21). The results suggested that the business students’ IL levels were not optimal, with no significant differences noted based on age, gender, semester, and academic disciplines. However, IL skills showed a positive correlation with students’ CGPA. The results also showed that IL had a positive effect on entrepreneurial intentions and entrepreneurial skills. In essence, students with higher levels of IL tended to exhibit better entrepreneurial intention and skills compared to those with lower IL levels. These results inform educators and policymakers in shaping policies and practices for business education in general and entrepreneurial education in particular. This research would be a valuable addition to the existing body of knowledge on IL research in the context of academia in general and business and entrepreneurial education in particular, as a limited number of studies have appeared in the existing literature
Author Correction: Proline-mediated redox regulation in wheat for mitigating nickel-induced stress and soil decontamination
No full textAuthor Correction: Synthesis of vitamin D3 loaded ethosomes gel to cure chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease: physical characterization, in vitro and ex vivo studies
No full textAuthor Correction: Bioinformatics approach for the construction of multiple epitope vaccine against omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2
No full textCo-occurrence of mycotoxins and other fungal metabolites in total mixed rations of cows from dairy farms in Punjab, Pakistan
No full textAfter India and the USA, Pakistan is the third country leading in global dairy production, a sector of very high socioeconomic relevance in Asia. Mycotoxins can affect animal health, reproduction and productivity. This study analysed a broad range of co-occurring mycotoxins and fungal secondary metabolites derived from Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium and other fungal species. To complete this, a validated multi-metabolite liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometric (LC/ESI-MS/MS) method was employed, detecting 96 of > 500 tested secondary fungal metabolites. This first preliminary study demonstrated that total mixed rations (TMRs) (n = 30) from big commercial dairy cattle farms (> 200 lactating cows) in Punjab, Pakistan, presented ubiquitous contamination with mixtures of mycotoxins. The mean of mycotoxins per sample was 14, ranging from 11 to 20 mycotoxins among all TMR samples. Metabolites derived from other fungi and Fusarium spp. showed the highest levels, frequency and diversity among the detected fungal compounds. Among the most prevalent mycotoxins were Fusarium toxins like fumonisins B1 (FB1) (93%), B2 (FB2) (100%) and B3 (FB3) (77%) and others. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was evidenced in 40% of the samples, and 7% exceeded the EU maximum limit for feeding dairy cattle (5 µg/kg at 88% dry matter). No other mycotoxin exceeds the EU guidance values (GVs). Additionally, we found that dietary ingredients like corn grain, soybean meal and canola meal were related to increased contamination of some mycotoxins (like FB1, FB2 and FB3) in TMR from the province of Punjab, Pakistan. Among typical forage sources, the content of maize silage was ubiquitous. Individually, the detected mycotoxins represented relatively low levels. However, under a realistic scenario, long-term exposure to multiple mycotoxins and other fungal secondary metabolites can exert unpredictable effects on animal health, reproduction and productivity. Except for ergot alkaloids (73%), all the groups of metabolites (i.e. derived from Alternaria spp., Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp. and other fungi) occurred in 100% of the TMR samples. At individual levels, no other mycotoxins than AFB1 represented a considerable risk; however, the high levels of co-occurrence with several mycotoxins/metabolites suggest that long-term exposure should be considered because of their potential toxicological interactions (additive or synergistic effects). [Abstract copyright: © 2023. The Author(s).
Das Gendergefälle in der Forschung: Eine bibliometrische Analyse der 100 meist zitierten Artikel über die Untersuchung lebensmittelbedingter Krankheitsausbrüchen im Zeitraum 1990-2020
No full textIntroduction: Despite a recent increase in the representation of female authors in scientific literature, a significant gap persists concerning the inclusion of women in research. This necessitates the analysis of published literature from a gender perspective. This study aimed to provide gender distribution in authorship in the 100 most-cited articles on food-borne pathogen outbreaks from 1990 to 2020.Methods: Bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Scopus database. Two reviewers were selected to search the database. We included the 100 most-cited articles on foodborne outbreak investigations. The analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 and Microsoft Excel version 2016. The citation data, including total citations, citations per year, and representation of women as first and senior authors, was analyzed in terms of frequencies, mean, median, and interquartile range. The correlation between journal impact factor and the representation of women in high-impact factor journals was determined. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.Results: Most of the top-cited articles were published between 2001 and 2010 (n=47). The top 3 most-cited articles were from the USA. Of the total 100 articles, women were the first and last authors in 46% and 28% of the articles, respectively, reflecting a significant gender gap. However, the proportion of females as principal investigators gradually increased from 25% (n=10/30) to 52% (n=24/47) during the period 2001-2010 and to 92% (n=12/13) during 2011-2020. The USA had the highest number of included articles (n=48), and women were principal authors in 56% (n=27) of them. The lowest representation of women was observed in Austria, Denmark, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.Conclusion: Women are under-represented in published literature on food-borne pathogen outbreaks. Although the representation of women as principal authors has recently increased, disparities still exist at the senior-author level, calling for women's advancement in academic science.Einleitung: Obwohl der Anteil von Frauen in der wissenschaftlichen Literatur in letzter Zeit zugenommen hat, besteht nach wie vor eine erhebliche Lücke bei der Einbeziehung von Frauen in die Forschung. Das macht eine Analyse der Literatur aus der Geschlechterperspektive erforderlich. Ziel dieser Studie war es, die geschlechtsspezifische Verteilung der Autorenschaft in den 100 meist zitierten Artikeln zu lebensmittelbedingten Ausbrüchen im Zeitraum 1990-2020 zu ermitteln.Methode: Die bibliometrische Analyse wurde mit Hilfe der Datenbank Scopus durchgeführt. Zwei Reviewer wurden mit der Suche in der Datenbank beauftragt. Es wurden die 100 am häufigsten zitierten Artikel zur Untersuchung lebensmittelbedingter Krankheitsausbrüche berücksichtigt. Die Analyse wurde mit SPSS, Version 26, und Microsoft Excel, Version 2016, durchgeführt. Die Zitationsdaten einschließlich der Gesamtzahl der Zitate, der Zitate pro Jahr und des Anteils von Frauen als Erst- und Seniorautorin, wurden in Form von Häufigkeiten, Mittelwert, Median und Interquartilsbereich analysiert. Die Korrelation zwischen dem Impact-Faktor der Zeitschrift und dem Anteil von Frauen in Zeitschriften mit hohem Impact-Faktor wurde ermittelt. Ein p-Wert von <0,05 wurde als signifikant angesehen.Ergebnisse: Die meisten der am häufigsten zitierten Artikel wurden im Zeitraum 2001-2010 veröffentlicht (n=47). Die 3 am häufigsten zitierten Artikel stammten aus den USA. Von den 100 Artikeln waren Frauen in 46% der Artikel Erstautorin und in 28% der Artikel Letztautorin, was ein erhebliches Geschlechtergefälle widerspiegelt. Der Anteil von Frauen als Hauptautorin stieg jedoch allmählich von 25% (n=10/30) auf 52% (n=24/47) im Zeitraum 2001-2010 und auf 92% (n=12/13) im Zeitraum 2011-2020. Da die USA die höchste Anzahl an eingeschlossenen Artikeln (n=48) aufwiesen, waren Frauen in 56% (n=27) der Artikel Hauptautorin. Der geringste Frauenanteil wurde in Österreich, Dänemark, Japan, den Niederlanden, Neuseeland, Nigeria, Portugal und UK beobachtet.Schlussfolgerung: Frauen sind in der veröffentlichten Literatur über die Untersuchung von lebensmittelbedingten Krankheitsausbrüchen unterrepräsentiert. Obwohl der Anteil von Frauen als Hauptautorin in letzter Zeit zugenommen hat, gibt es immer noch Ungleichheiten auf der Ebene der leitenden Autoren und Autorinnen, die eine Förderung von Frauen in der akademischen Wissenschaft erfordern
