An evaluation of the value of preliminary investigation in insurance loss adjusting

The aim of this research is to evaluate the degree to which the loss adjusters are engaging in preliminary investigation in insurance loss adjusting at TIH. The preliminary investigative phase is regarded as the cornerstone of criminal and other investigative processes. This includes the investigative process followed in the insurance industry which directs a case that is being investigated with the main objective of gathering accurate evidence to ensure that the entire investigation is not jeopardised. Literature confirms the importance of the preliminary investigative phase, which includes the collection of information and evidence and interviews. To answer the primary research question, the researcher used a qualitative research approach and conducted one-on-one interviews with knowledgeable loss adjusters based in KwaZulu-Natal and one expert. In addition, national and international literature sources were consulted. The study found that the preliminary investigative phase is a vital part of an investigation into a short-term insurance claim.Injongo yolu phando kukuphonononga iqondo apho abalungelelanisi belahleko babandakanyeka khona kuphando lokuqala kulungelelaniso lwelahleko yeinshorensi kwi-TIH. Isigaba sokuqala kuphando sithathwa njengesibalulekileyo kwiinkqubo zolwaphulomthetho kunye nezinye iinkqubo zophando. Oku kuquka inkqubo yophando elandelwayo kushishino lweinshorensi ekhokela ityala eliphandwayo ngenjongo ephambili yokuqokelela ubungqina obuchanekileyo ukuqinisekisa ukuba uphando lulonke alukho sengozini okanye aluchithwa. Uncwadi luyakungqina ukubaluleka kwesigaba sokuqala kuphando, esibandakanya ukuqokelelwa kolwazi/iinkcukacha, ubungqina kunye nokwenziwa kodliwanondlebe. Ukuphendula umbuzo ophambili kolu phando, umphandi usebenzise indlela yophandontyilazwi waze wenza udliwanondlebe lobuqu nabalungelelanisi belahleko abanolwazi kunye nengcali enye KwaZulu-Natal. Ukongeza, kolu phando kusetyenziswe imithombo yoncwadi yesizwe neyamazwe ngamazwe. Uphando lufumanise ukuba isigaba sokuqala kuphando siyinxalenye ebalulekileyo yophando lwebango kwi-inshorensi yexeshana.Inhloso yalolu cwaningo ukuhlola izinga abalungisi bokulahlekelwa abahlanganyela ngalo ophenyweni lokuqala ekulungisweni kokulahlekelwa komshwalense e-TIH. Isigaba sokuqala sophenyo sithathwa njengesisekelo sobugebengu nezinye izinqubo zophenyo. Lokhu kuhlanganisa nenqubo yophenyo elandelwa embonini yomshwalense eqondisa icala eliphenywayo ngenhloso enkulu yokuqoqa ubufakazi obunembile ukuqinisekisa ukuthi lonke uphenyo aluphazamiseki. Imibhalo iqinisekisa ukubaluleka kwesigaba sokuqala sophenyo, esihlanganisa ukuqoqwa kolwazi nobufakazi kanye nezingxoxo. Ukuphendula umbuzo oyinhloko wocwaningo, umcwaningi usebenzise indlela yocwaningo olusezingeni eliphezulu futhi wenza inhlolokhono yomuntu ngamunye nabalungisi bokulahlekelwa abanolwazi abazinze KwaZulu-Natal kanye nochwepheshe oyedwa. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwaxhunyanwa nemithombo yezincwadi kazwelonke neyamazwe ngamazwe. Ucwaningo luthole ukuthi isigaba sokuqala sophenyo siyingxenye ebalulekile yophenyo mayelana nesimangalo somshwalense wesikhathi esifushane.M.A. (Criminal Justice)Criminology and Security Scienc

Social support as a correlate of depression among people living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria

Background: Depression is a highly prevalent mental disorder among PLHIV, whilst social support is important in disease prevention, health promotion, therapeutic measure especially for PLHIV. Objectives: To ascertain the different types and sources of social support and their association with depression among PLHIV in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was a correlation with 2515 PLHIV in three teaching hospitals in South-Eastern Nigeria. Data were collected between January to June, 2019 through interviews, using socio-demographic and Clinical Form and a Social Support Scale for PLHIV. SPSS-20 used for data analysis. Results: It was shown that average scores of instrumental and emotional social supports (IESS) were satisfactory and not influenced by sex (p = 0.894; p = 0.496), education (p = 0.805; p = 0.182), marital status (p = 0.076; p = 0.446) and length of antiretroviral therapy (p = 0.510; p = 0.136). People diagnosed for less than three years had more instrumental support (p = 0.05) than those diagnosed over three years. The regression score also revealed a high predictive power of IESS on depression of PLHIV. Conclusion: PLHIV have satisfactory social support, especially from family not residing in the same household and emotional social support from friends. Analyses identified knowledge gaps in the community regarding the social support received by PLHIV and their depression symptoms

Evidence of Infection by H5N2 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses in Healthy Wild Waterfowl

The potential existence of a wild bird reservoir for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been recently questioned by the spread and the persisting circulation of H5N1 HPAI viruses, responsible for concurrent outbreaks in migratory and domestic birds over Asia, Europe, and Africa. During a large-scale surveillance programme over Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, we detected avian influenza viruses of H5N2 subtype with a highly pathogenic (HP) viral genotype in healthy birds of two wild waterfowl species sampled in Nigeria. We monitored the survival and regional movements of one of the infected birds through satellite telemetry, providing a rare evidence of a non-lethal natural infection by an HP viral genotype in wild birds. Phylogenetic analysis of the H5N2 viruses revealed close genetic relationships with H5 viruses of low pathogenicity circulating in Eurasian wild and domestic ducks. In addition, genetic analysis did not reveal known gallinaceous poultry adaptive mutations, suggesting that the emergence of HP strains could have taken place in either wild or domestic ducks or in non-gallinaceous species. The presence of coexisting but genetically distinguishable avian influenza viruses with an HP viral genotype in two cohabiting species of wild waterfowl, with evidence of non-lethal infection at least in one species and without evidence of prior extensive circulation of the virus in domestic poultry, suggest that some strains with a potential high pathogenicity for poultry could be maintained in a community of wild waterfowl

Short Term Solution to Meat Shortage: Production of Poultry, Pigs & Rabbit (with emphasis on poultry production)

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Neuroprotective or Neurohype? Unpacking GLP-1 Agonists in Brain Health and Weight Loss

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) were initially developed for type 2 diabetes management, but emerging research suggests they may have significant neuroprotective properties (Du et al., 2022). These agents have been shown to reduce neuroinflammation, enhance synaptic plasticity, and mitigate oxidative stress, which are key contributors to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s (Cummings et al., 2025). Additionally, GLP-1 RAs appear to improve cognitive function, even in non-diabetic individuals, raising interest in their potential as therapeutic interventions for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders (Vadini et al., 2020). Recent studies highlight the ability of GLP-1 RAs to reduce amyloid-beta accumulation and tau pathology, hallmark features of Alzheimer’s disease, while also exerting dopaminergic protective effects relevant to Parkinson’s disease (Meissner et al., 2024). Given the rising popularity of GLP-1 RAs like Ozempic for weight loss, questions remain about their broader cognitive effects, long-term safety, and whether their neuroprotective benefits are independent of glucose metabolism. Further research is needed to determine their full potential in brain health, optimal dosing strategies, and possible risks associated with chronic use. This review explores current findings on the neurological effects of GLP-1 RAs and their implications for future treatment strategies in neurodegenerative diseases

EFEKTIVITAS METODE COOPERATIVE LEARNING TEKNIK CONCEPT SENTENCE PADA PEMBELAJARAN POLA KALIMAT DASAR BAHASA JEPANG

Penelitian ini adalah implikasi dari kurangnya kemampuan siswa dalam pembelajaran pola kalimat dasar bahasa Jepang. Akibatnya, banyak siswa yang tidak menguasai bahasa Jepang dengan baik karena kurangnya memahami kalimat bahasa Jepang. Untuk mengatasi masalah tersebut, peneliti menerapkan metode Cooperative Learning teknik Concept Sentence pada pembelajaran pola kalimat dasar bahasa Jepang. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui efektivitas metode Cooperative Learning teknik Concept Sentence diterapkan pada pembelajaran pola kalimat dasar bahasa Jepang. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode eksperimen murni. Sedangkan desain penelitian yang digunakan adalah “Control Group Pre-test Post-test Design”. Adapun instrumen penelitiannya adalah tes dan angket. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh siswa kelas 1 Ap SMK “SMIP YPPT Bandung”. Dan sampelnya adalah siswa kelas 1 Ap2 SMK “SMIP YPPT Bandung”. Dari hasil analisa data tes diperoleh t = 5,88 db = 68 dan pada tabel didapat nilai t.s.0,005 = 1,66 dan t.s.0,001 = 2,36. Berdasarkan hasil pengolahan data yang diperoleh, disimpulkan t hitung (5,88) > t tabel (1,66 dan 2,36) yang berarti hipotesis kerja diterima sedangkan hipotesis nol ditolak. Hal tersebut berarti penggunaan metode Cooperative Learning teknik Concept Sentence terbukti efektif terhadap pembelajaran pola kalimat dasar bahasa Jepang. Berdasarkan pengolahan data angket diperoleh gambaran bahwa siswa menyukai pembelajaran dengan metode Cooperative Learning teknik Concept Sentence pada pola kalimat dasar bahasa Jepang. Setelah melihat hasil penelitian yang telah dilakukan, penulis menyimpulkan bahwa penggunaan metode Cooperative Learning teknik Concept Sentence dapat meningkatkan kemampuan pola kalimat bahasa Jepang siswa. Oleah karena itu metode ini dapat dijadikan alternatif dalam pengajaran pola kalimat dasar bahasa Jepang