Barcode technology and its use and applications: A study of selected libraries of Bangladesh

This study explored the usage and applications of barcode technologies through a survey carried out in eight libraries in Dhaka City of Bangladesh. The survey included the following: Inception year, software used to barcode, areas in which barcodes are being used in libraries, training of library staff, and satisfaction of users and information professionals. The merits and demerits of barcode technologies are presented.     

Normal delivery induced stress alters glutathione peroxidase and TNF-α in elderly primigravidas mononuclear cells

To probe the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity coupled to ROS and TNF-α levels in younger versus elderly primigravidas. Monocytes were isolated from blood of young and elderly primigravidas after 12 hrs, 24 hrs and 14 days postpartum. Age-matched healthy female donors served as controls. Thereafter, the above monocytes were subjected to evaluation of GPx activity, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and reactivity/specificity towards anti-TNF-α antibody. Suppression in GPx activity with simultaneous enhancement of TNF-α levels in monocytes was observed after 12 hrs and 24 hrs of spontaneous labor pain-induced maternal delivery through normal vaginal route. Conversely, an enhancement of GPx activity and decrease in TNF-α levels were observed on day 14 of postpartum, thereby indicating reversal of the impaired neutralizing mechanisms. The antioxidant network combating ROS was stronger in younger primigravidas. Capability of TNF-α and ROS suppression was somewhat lesser in elderly primigravidas even 14 days of postpartum via normal vaginal route. The capability of GPx activity enhancement with simultaneous suppression in ROS and TNF-α, decreases in elderly primigravidas. This may act as one of the important parameters leading to a variety of complications encountered by elderly primigravidas.     

Things Fall Apart and Come Together: Using the Visual for Reflection in Alternative Teacher Education Programmes

In this article, we focus on the use of the visual for reflection in ‘alternative’ pre‐service teacher education and, in particular, we address the question: How and what can we learn about teacher education using the visual? By way of illustration, we focus on the use of pre‐service teachers’ photographs in a public exhibition, participatory video documentary production and pre‐service teachers’ use of photographs in their professional teaching portfolios. The article draws from research done in relation to three alternative pre‐service teacher education projects based at McGill University in Canada and the University of KwaZulu‐Natal in South Africa.