Modern Traditions? British Muslim Women and Academic Achievement

Participation rates in higher education for British South Asian Muslim women are steadily increasing. The aim of this article, therefore, is to explore motivations and influences for entering higher education and to consider how these may contribute to current discourses surrounding Muslim women in Britain. The possible impact higher education may have on their future relationships and lifestyle choices is also briefly considered. Various notions of 'agency' have been expressed that are characteristic of the ongoing complex assessments made by these women in relation to both perceived familial obligations and their own aspirations. Their articulations suggest that higher education is increasingly viewed as a necessary asset in maintaining and gaining social prestige. This preliminary research indicates that young South Asian Muslim women are continually negotiating and renegotiating their cultural, religious and personal identities and that these processes operate in complex and sometimes contradictory ways.     

Characterization of wall dispersive and attenuative effects on UWB radar signals

This paper addresses the potentials of ultra-wideband (UWB) through-wall imaging radars compared with conventional narrowband systems. The challenges that limit the utilization of high precision UWB systems are examined with the aim of mitigating them. These challenges include multi-path, pulse dispersion, and antenna effects on the pulse shape due to angles of transmission and arrival. The propagation of UWB signals through walls is a crucial factor in determining the success of UWB radar technology. UWB signals, when propagating through walls, not only suffer attenuation but also distortion due to dispersive properties of the walls. This paper examines time- and frequency-domain techniques for measuring the electromagnetic properties of construction materials in the UWB frequency range. The measured parameters provide valuable insights in appreciating the capabilities and limitations of the UWB technology. Special attention is paid to time gating as a mean to extract the direct-path signal from the multi-path components. Both single-pass and multi-pass models are discussed. Multi-pass models account for the multiple reflections within the wall while the single-pass model assumes the possibility of gating out a single transmission. The partition-dependent narrowband propagation model is modified to account for the ultra-wide bandwidth of the signal. The paper illustrates the application of the modified model in indoor environments. The modified model is helpful in estimating the link power budget. It is also useful in studying the performance of UWB systems for indoor communication and positioning applications.     

Peranan bahasa dalam kebudayaan

Bahawa “bahasa” dalam pengertian orang-orang Melayu tidaklah semata-mata bersifat lingual (yang hanya menjadi alat komunikasi antara dua pihak pengguna bahasa sahaja); tetapi bahasa itu adalah lebih kultural (yang menjadi pengilham dan pendorong manusia ke tahap lebih baik dalam hidupnya; sekaligus mempertinggi kebudayaan manusia itu).     

Fundamentalism or pluralism: Iranian youth’s orientation

Islamic fundamentalism is an extreme perception of Islam that views ‘the “Other” as the enemy demonized’ against the ‘West’, which also views the Muslim ‘enemy within’. In contrast, pluralism perceives ‘others’ as different people, with different values from us. While the fundamentalist seeks to engage in war with the enemy/other, pluralism tolerates difference/conflict with others in peace and in the spirit of mutual acceptance. This article spells out the potential contributions to research regarding fundamentalism stemming from different approaches in Iran. Drawing on data collected from 31 individual in-depth interviews with Tehranian high school students and 206 questionnaires that were filled in by students who were randomly selected from 4 of 19 zones of Education in Tehran, their perceptions about pluralism and fundamentalism will be presented. The aim is to help move debate about fundamentalism beyond the pejorative labelling and to explore the concept of fundamentalism and pluralism in an Iranian context. As a case study, Tehranian pre-university students’ point of view about fundamentalism and pluralism will be discussed, in order to comprehend attitudes to fundamentalism and pluralism on the part of Iranian young people.     

Adjustments of serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes and their significance in monitoring the treatment in patients with tubercular pyothorax

The adjustments and diagnostic significance of polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic (PAGE) profiles of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes (LDH: 1.1.1.27) was evaluated in the sera and pleural fluid of patients with tubercular pyothorax. Sera and pleural fluid samples were randomly collected from 72 and 18 patients respectively at two different timings; first, when patients were admitted to the Hospital and second, after an intensive phase of treatment. Sera of 20 healthy individuals served as control. Our results demonstrate significant differences in sera LDH (sLDH) and pleural fluid LDH (pfLDH) isoenzymes. In patients the order of LDH isoenzyme in sera and pleural fluid followed: LDH−5>−4>−2>−3>−1 and LDH-5>−4>−3>−2>−1 respectively. The ranking of activity levels in control was LDH−2>−1>−3>−5>−4. In the second phase of sampling from 31 patients, values of sLDH isoenzymes showed recovery and resembled profiles of controls. Therefore, the sLDH zymograms of patients can be used as the prognostic marker, since they tend to reach the normal level during recovery signifying the effect of chemotherapy in hospitalized patients. Moreover, according to the present findings on LDH-PAGE profiles, the levels of LDH-5 and-4 rise in pyothorax patients significantly (P<0.05). This elevation along with the rise in total LDH activity may, therefore, be used in the diagnosis and monitoring of tubercular pyothorax.     

United Arab Emirates University students’ attitudes towards the handicapped

ABSTRACT

The study aims to explore attitudes of the United Arab Emirates University students towards the handicapped. A sample of 313 students, conventionally drawn, took the College Students' Attitude Scale towards the Handicapped. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in favour of females vs males, single vs married, residents vs non‐residents, families with handicapped children, previous contact with handicapped and urban vs rural groups. Several recommendations are suggested at the end of the study.     

Students’ ‘uses and gratification expectancy’ conceptual framework in relation to E-learning resources

This paper presents the systematic development of a ‘Uses and Gratification Expectancy’ (UGE) conceptual framework which is able to predict students’ ‘Perceived e-Learning Experience. ’ It is argued that students’ UGE as regards e-learning resources cannot be implicitly or explicitly explored without first examining underlying communication theories and learning perspectives. As such, the theoretical framework is grounded in the confluence of theories from communication theories and learning perspectives. The integration of Expectancy-value Theory, and the Uses and Gratification Theory serves to accommodate the suggestion that elearning resources offer gratifications that are expected and valued by students. The key theoretical and practical assumptions of the UGE approach are highlighted and consistently implemented in the conceptual edifice.     

Classroom

In this section of Resonance, we invite readers to pose questions likely to be raised in a classroom situation. We may suggest strategies for dealing with them, or invite responses, or both. “Classroom” is equally a forum for raising broader issues and sharing personal experiences and viewpoints on matters related to teaching and learning science.