An improved technique for global daily sunshine duration estimation using satellite imagery

This paper presents an improved model for global sunshine duration estimation. The methodology incorporates geostationary satellite images by including snow cover information, sun and satellite angles and a trend correction factor for seasons, for the determination of cloud cover index. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology has been tested using Meteosat geostationary satellite images in the visible band with a temporal resolution of 1 h and spatial resolution of 2.5 km×2.5 km, for the Brue Catchment in the southwest of England. Validation results show a significant improvement in the estimation of global sunshine duration by the proposed method as compared to its predecessor (R ² is improved from 0.68 to 0.83, root mean squared error (RMSE) from 2.37 h/d to 1.19 h/d and the mean biased error (MBE) from 0.21 h/d to 0.08 h/d). Further studies are needed to test this method in other parts of the world with different climate and geographical conditions.     

The Covid‐19 ‘infodemic’: a new front for information professionals

The virus, commonly known as COVID‐19 which emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, has spread in 213 countries, areas or territories around the globe, with nearly 144 683 deaths worldwide on 18 April 2020. In the wake of this pandemic, we have witnessed a massive infodemic with the public being bombarded with vast quantities of information, much of which is not scientifically correct. Fighting fake news is now the new front in the COVID‐19 battle. This regular feature comments on the role of health sciences librarians and information professionals in combating the COVID‐19 infodemic. To support their work, it draws attention to the myth busters, fact‐checkers and credible sources relating to COVID‐19. It also documents the guides that libraries have put together to help the general public, students and faculty recognise fake news.     

Logistic Regression Analysis of Employment Behavior Data Using Randomized Response Technique

Direct survey techniques deal with collecting information on sensitive issues data, such as induced abortion, drug addiction, and so on. RR （randomized response） techniques are available for many interviewees, who do not feel comfortable to disclose their personal data due to privacy risks. RR techniques are used in the estimation of the number of people having a sensitive attribute say A. When the research is conducted on the disgraceful or ignominious characteristics of persons like rash driving, tax elusion, induced abortion, testing HIV （human immunodeficiency virus） positive etc., RR techniques are used to make sure that the estimates obtained are efficient and unbiased. During these types of surveys, privacy of the respondent is also managed. Among others, the conflict between efficiency and protection of privacy was also discussed by Nayak in 1994. In RR-related techniques, the SRS （simple random sampling） is statistically used in the sample selection. In this paper, RR procedure is used that allows us to estimate the population proportion in addition to the probability of providing a truthful answer. This study also quantifies a method for the estimation of the model having one variable （univariate） while studying logistic regression, where the dependent variables are subject to RR. In addition, an efficiency comparison is carried out to investigate the performance of the proposed technique. It is also assumed that during the study, the respondents will respond keeping in view the instructions of the RR design. The general idea about findings of current study, though, is so as to perform RR techniques comparatively fine.     

Use of Electronic Information Resources Among Research Scholars in the Islamia University of Bahawalpur,Pakistan

This study examined the use of electronic resources among academic scholars of The Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB), Punjab, Pakistan. A quantitative survey was found most convenient and useful for this study. The total population of the study was 169 research students in IUB. The response rate was 79% and 133 utilizable responses were coded and analyzed by using SPSS software. Results of the study showed that most of the researchers (61%) used electronic resources daily for many purposes and reasons. Most of them (57%) were “satisfied” with the usage of electronic resources. Learning, education, and research were the main purposes, and easy use and easy access to documents were the major reasons of using these resources. Lack of internet connection is the major problem faced by the respondents.     

The performance status of higher educational institutions: A transfer of knowledge perspective

Education and Information Technologies - The study is the empirical application of Gul and Jamal's (2021) Transfer of Knowledge Index. The study presents the ranking of 17 public sector HEI by...     

Alice in Oman

The success of university-level education depends on the quality of underlying school education and any deficiency therein may be detrimental to a student’s career. This may be more glaring with Computer Science education, given its mercurial nature. In the developing countries, the Computer Science school curricula are usually stuffed with obsolete, unnecessary and dry contents. The problem is multiplied by the lack of qualified school teachers and separate media of instruction at the school and the university. In this paper we are focusing on the computer Science pedagogy at schools, with a possibility of introducing approaches, like Alice. The latter may on one hand be appealing to both the students and teachers and on the other hand may require a lot less training. With that in view, an experiment was designed to teach Alice, to sampled K-12 students, and study the ensued effects. The outcomes were realized in two ways. One, the attendees were required to furnish a small project/task in order to judge their understanding of Alice. Two, the students were surveyed for their views on Alice and possible inclusion of such approaches in their course. Given the brief contact time, the results were found to be promising as most of the respondents were in favor of a change in the approach Computer Science teaching. The tasks were well received by the respondents and most of them carried out the tasks assigned to them, enthusiastically. English language Comprehension was the single largest problem and that’s why the students demonstrated reluctance in adding dialogues on part of the characters. As far as the responses to the questionnaire were concerned, an overwhelming majority had a favorable opinion of the approach. They found it easy to use, understand, comprehend and considered it useful in initiating a novice to programming. They even rated it superior to their current syllabus. Some questions were chosen from the futuristic point of view and the responses were more than expected as the students felt motivated towards studying IT after coming across Alice. The only thing the respondents insisted was the inclusion Arabic language support in the future versions of Alice.     

Correction to: The performance status of higher educational institutions: A transfer of knowledge perspective

Education and Information Technologies -     

Socio-cultural Barriers to Attaining Recommended Levels of Physical Activity among Females: A Review of Literature

Females might be more affected by sociocultural barriers to physical activity because of their gender roles. This review was conducted to examine the available evidence on socioculture barriers to attaining recommended levels of physical activity among females. After thorough review, 34 articles were selected. Childcare, household work, cultural beliefs, social isolation, and unsafe neighborhood environment were leading sociocultural barriers preventing females from attaining recommended levels of physical activity. Lack of social support from family, living in extended families, living in rural areas, absence of culturally appropriate facilities, and, in some countries, past experiences of war were the main barriers. Observations of people in the family and in neighborhood performing physical activity were positively associated with physical activity. Females are a disadvantaged group that lacks social support and have poor control over decisions related to their health. Sociocultural factors act as the main barriers to recommended levels of physical activity.     

Proposed information outreach programme in primary and secondary health care of Punjab,Pakistan

The study reported is part of Dr. Naeem's doctoral research, supervised by Professor Bhatti, with the objective to propose an information outreach programme for health care professionals working in rural areas of the Punjab province, Pakistan. A cross‐sectional survey was conducted involving 517 practitioners from across different health care facilities in the area. The goals of the outreach programme are identified on the basis of the findings regarding practitioners’ current usage and awareness of, as well as attitude and self‐efficacy towards using health information resources. The identification of these goals and their related activities, including logistical, promotional and educational, results in a model of the required inputs and investments to achieve both the short term, intermediate and long term results of the programme. F.J.