Towards a self healing information system for digital libraries

INTRODUCTION Digital libraries that have received wide atten- tion in recent years allow access to digital information from anywhere across the world, and have become widely accepted and even preferred information sources in education, science, and other areas (Marchionini and Maurer, 1995). The rapid growth of Internet and the increasing interest in development of digital library related technologies and collections (Bainbridge et al., 2003; McCray and Gallagher, 2001) helped accelerat…     

Predicting Reading Proficiency in Multilevel Models: An ANOVA-like approach of interpreting effects

This study used an analysis of variance (ANOVA)-like approach to predict reading proficiency with student, teacher, and school-level predictors based on a 3-level hierarchical generalized linear model (HGLM) analysis. National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2000 reading data for 4th graders sampled from 46 states of the United States of America were used. The study found that both the rich and poor minority students in a rich school benefited the most in reading performance, whereas rich and average socioeconomic status non-minority students in a rich school being taught in the non-crowded classroom achieved considerably high in reading proficiency. Based on the 3-level HGLM analysis, the ANOVA-like approach enabled the researchers to predict reading proficiency and interpret predictors' effects in a simple fashion.     

The usage and adoption of cloud computing by small and medium businesses

Cloud computing has become the buzzword in the industry today. Though, it is not an entirely new concept but in today's digital age, it has become ubiquitous due to the proliferation of Internet, broadband, mobile devices, better bandwidth and mobility requirements for end-users (be it consumers, SMEs or enterprises). In this paper, the focus is on the perceived inclination of micro and small businesses (SMEs or SMBs) toward cloud computing and the benefits reaped by them. This paper presents five factors influencing the cloud usage by this business community, whose needs and business requirements are very different from large enterprises. Firstly, ease of use and convenience is the biggest favorable factor followed by security and privacy and then comes the cost reduction. The fourth factor reliability is ignored as SMEs do not consider cloud as reliable. Lastly but not the least, SMEs do not want to use cloud for sharing and collaboration and prefer their old conventional methods for sharing and collaborating with their stakeholders.     

Science teachers accelerated programme model: a joint partnership in the Pacific region

The paper heralds a new pedagogical model known as the Science Teachers Accelerated Programme as a platform to upgrade the qualifications of secondary school science teachers throughout the Pacific region. Based on a tripartite partnership between a higher education provider, a regional government and a cohort of science teachers, the model offers an accelerated Bachelor’s degree programme to the cohort. Using this tripartite partnership model, a pilot of the Science Teachers Accelerated Programme is underway between the University of the South Pacific, the Government of Samoa and a cohort of science teachers in Samoa. The underpinning activities garnering social and academic integration are highlighted with analytics. The strengths, challenges and opportunities of the new, cohort-taught science model are presented with relevant diagnoses, interventions and adaptive works carried out in the first half of the delivery plan. While the Government of Samoa is considering the implementation of a second cycle, the University of the South Pacific is considering extending the model to other regional countries.     

Lichens: A valuable bioresource for environmental monitoring and sustainable development

Lichens are a good example of the virtues of simplicity and cooperation. They survive in extremes of climatic conditions, ranging from low tide level on the sea shore to the high reaches of the Himalaya, beyond the tree line, in the arctic Tundra.     

Reliability of a Digital Method to Determine Frontal Area of a Cyclist

Eight cyclists were photographed with a digital camera for three trials while positioned on their own bicycle wearing their helmet. The positions were different from each other and described as hands on the brake hoods, hands below the curve of the brake hoods on the handlebars, and using aerobars. Twenty-four trials were digitized by two different individuals three times to estimate the inter- and intra-rater reliability of the method. The intraclass correlation coefficient (p < .05) value for the intra-rater (test–retest) reliability was .993, and for inter-rater consistency, it was .976. There were significant differences (p < .05) between digitizers and between trials, apparently due to a learning effect that disappeared by the third trial. Due to small differences between digitizers and trials, caution is recommended when considering the use of this method.     

Keystone functions of Hydrilla verticillata

Submerged freshwater weed Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle, though considered a nuisance, is a cosmopolitan primary keystone species. If scientifically managed, H. verticillata would prove to be a ‘wonder keystone species’ in the world, to conserve the rapidly declining freshwater biodiversity.     

Gender differences in associations between exposure to school HIV education and protective sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted disease/HIV diagnosis among high school students

This study aimed to assess associations between school HIV education and protective sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted disease (STD)/HIV diagnosis with a representative sample of male and female high school students. Data from male and female adolescent participants in the 1999, 2001 and 2003 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey (n = 12,243) were analyzed. Adjusted regression analyses stratified by gender were conducted to assess relationships between school HIV education exposure and the following outcomes: no sexual initiation, condom use at last sex, no multiple sex partners in the past three months and no history of STD/HIV diagnosis. Participants were mostly White (75%) and were 51% male; the subsample of sexually active students was younger than the total sample but was otherwise similar in demographics. School HIV education was reported by 93% of our sample and was significantly related to sexual initiation among boys (odds ratio = 1.9, 95% confidence interval = 1.4–2.7) but not girls. Among sexually experienced students (n = 4752), boys reporting exposure to school HIV education were significantly more likely to report condom use (odds ratio = 2.2, 95% confidence interval = 1.6–3.1), no multiple sex partners (odds ratio = 3.2, 95% confidence interval = 2.3–4.4) and no STD/HIV diagnosis (odds ratio = 3.2, 95% confidence interval = 2.0–5.0); girls reporting such exposure were significantly more likely to report no multiple sex partners (odds ratio = 2.2, 95% confidence interval = 1.3–3.6). In conclusion, exposure to school HIV education is associated with sexual protective behaviors and reduced likelihood of STD/HIV diagnosis for boys but less so for girls, suggesting the need for more gender‐tailored approaches to school HIV education.     

Cytokine Gene Polymorphism in Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome Children

The pathogenesis of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is not completely understood. We postulate that cytokine gene polymorphisms may influence susceptibility or clinical course in Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome. Polymorphisms of IL-4, IL-6, and TNF-α cytokines were investigated in 150 children with Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome and 569 healthy controls by using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. On comparing patient with controls strong association were found for IL-6, TNF-α and IL-4 at allelic level (IL-6-G174C (G vs. C): P = <0.001; OR = 6.33, TNF-α-G308A (G vs. A): P = <0.001; OR = 1.99, IL-4-C590T (C vs. T): P = 0.048; OR = 1.38). Further when SR group was compared with SS group significant association was found at genotypic level in all the studied genetic polymorphisms. Studied cytokine gene polymorphisms may influence susceptibility to idiopathic nephrotic syndrome and might affect steroid response in INS patients.     

Experimental Validation of Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Potential of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cassia tora</Emphasis> (L.): An Indigenous Medicinal Plant

The present study was undertaken to evaluate antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of Cassia tora (C. tora) seeds extract against streptozotocin induced diabetes in experimental rats to scientifically validate its use against diabetes. Ethanolic extract of C. tora seeds extract and standard drug (glibenclamide) prepared in aqueous gum acacia (2 %, w/v) suspension and fed orally to streptozotocin induced male adult diabetic rats of Charles Foster strain for 15 days. Biochemical parameters in normal, diabetic control, standard (600 μg/kg bw p.o.) and treated (500 mg/kg bw p.o.) animal groups were quantified and compared. Treatment of streptozotocin induced diabetic rats with ethanolic seeds extract caused significant (p < 0.001) reduction in blood glucose (270–220 mg/dl), total cholesterol (140–104 mg/dl), triglyceride (149–99 mg/dl), phospholipids (100–74 mg/dl), free fatty acid (2.39–2.00 μmol/l), lipid peroxide (9–5.63 nmol MDA/dl) and significantly increased post heparin lipolytic activity (11–14 nmol FFA released/h/l plasma) (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the seeds extract (100–400 μg) when tested for its antioxidant activity in vitro, showed significant (p < 0.001) inhibition in the generation of super oxide anions in enzymic system a (46–37, 33, 23, 21 nmol uric acid formed/min), in enzymic system b (113–91, 77, 60, 51 nmol formazon formed/min), non-enzymic system (324–230, 211, 161, 141 nmol uric acid formed/min) and hydroxyl radicals in enzymic system (544–501, 411, 319, 291 nmol 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate formed/h) and non-enzymic system (28–21, 17, 14, 12). The results of the present study demonstrated antidiabetic, antidyslipidemic and antioxidant activities of C. tora seeds which could help in prevention of diabeticdyslipidemia and related complications.