Information Search Strategies Among Theological Faculty Members in Tamil Nadu

This research article studies the information seeking search strategies used by theological faculty members in Tamil Nadu. It is based on a structured questionnaire sent to 120 select faculty members, of which 101 questionnaires were returned, achieving a response rate of 84%. Major findings of this study contribute to understanding the awareness and use of search options among respondents. Basic and keyword search options are commonly used by respondents in online sources while preferences for references from books and journals are more popular among faculty members to locate bibliographic information in print sources. This study further noted that faculty members are generally seeking information for preparing class lectures and preaching sermons and respondents indicated that Google searching is highly used by them for locating online information. The respondents expressed that borrowing books and using reference books and journals are the most compelling reasons for visiting libraries. Reading table of contents and reading specific articles are common strategies used by faculty members while looking for information in print resources. The non-availability of full-text articles, lack of scholarly national publications and retrieving irrelevant articles are problems faculty members commonly face while searching online resources. The findings of this study have impact on library instruction, and for improving library services and collections in theological institutions in Tamil Nadu

Status of major southern California marine sport fish species with management recommendations, based on analyses of catch and size composition data collected on board commercial passenger fishing vessels from 1985 through 1987

This report on the status of major southern California marine sport fish species, together with management recommendations, is based on analyses of catch and size composition data, which were collected on board Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessels (CPFV) from 1985 through 1987. The project was designed to determine the status of those fishes that support the CPFV industry, and to make management recommendations when deemed necessary. We collected and analyzed data based on random, stratified, on-board sampling of weekday (excluding holidays), open CPFV's on a year-round basis. We sampled 1/2-day, 3/4-day, and full-day type trips at a level of 5%. The survey area extended from below the United States-Mexican border to Point Arguello. Catch estimates were extrapolated to include weekday as well as weekend and holiday, open and chartered CPFV's. We sampled 736 CPFV trips in 1985, 650 in 1986, and 631 in 1987. We encountered 180 species of fishes, including 49 species of rockfishes. We performed detailed analyses on 14 non-rockfish species and 12 rockfish species, as well as all fishes as a group and all rockfishes as a group. We found a moderate increase in total catch of combined fish species between this study and one in the mid-1970's, due primarily to sizeable increases in catches of Pacific mackerel, kelp bass, barred sand bass, and barracuda. However, we also found that there has been more than a 50% decline in the CPFV rockfish catches, due primarily to substantial decreases in catches of bocaccio, chilipepper, and olive rockfish. We have recommended that the current 15-rockfish bag limit regulation be reduced to a 10-rockfish bag limit, and that additional and equitable conservation measures also be implemented on the commercial rockfish fishery. (385pp.

Security Vulnerabilities of the Web Based Open Source Information Systems: Adoption Process and Source Codes Screening

This paper exposes security vulnerabilities of the web based Open Source Information Systems (OSIS) from both system angle and human perspectives.It shows the extent of risk that can likely hinder adopting organization from attaning full intended benefits of using OSIS software. To undertake this study, a case study methodology was opted with fifteen public and private organizations being software companies and technology users. The respondents to this study were categorized as top  management, software developers, systems administrators and end users. Apart from intensive documentary review, critical investigation of onsite servers running nine web based OSIS systems has been done. The studied systems are MOODLE, OrangeHRM, ATutor, Koha, WebERP, vTigerCRM, OpenDocMan, OpenSIS and Zalongwa software.The study reveals that there are security weaknesses in locally customized OSIS systems and freely downloadable information systems from internet repository. This has been a result of uncoordinated operations and ad hoc performance of key OSIS stakeholders ranging from early stages of sourcing the said software, OSIS selection, adoption, customization, installation, upgrading androutine management.Keywords – Open Source Software, Information System, Software Security

Chitin and carbon nanotube composites as biocompatible scaffolds for neuron growth

Preparation of biocompatible and electrically-conducting chitin nanotube composite scaffold for potential use in implantable electrode for stimulation and repair of neurons.</p

From the cell membrane to the nucleus: unearthing transport mechanisms for Dynein

Mutations in the motor protein cytoplasmic dynein have been found to cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, spinal muscular atrophy, and severe intellectual disabilities in humans. In mouse models, neurodegeneration is observed. We sought to develop a novel model which could incorporate the effects of mutations on distance travelled and velocity. A mechanical model for the dynein mediated transport of endosomes is derived from first principles and solved numerically. The effects of variations in model parameter values are analysed to find those that have a significant impact on velocity and distance travelled. The model successfully describes the processivity of dynein and matches qualitatively the velocity profiles observed in experiments

Data Warehouse and BI to catalize information use in health sector for decision making: a case study

Health sector in most countries including Zanzibar lacks the single repository that integrates health management data produced by multitude of sources. The study proves cost effective but successful implementation of Data Warehouse (DW) plays useful role to influence informed decision making in the health sector. Successful DW needs to include necessary features such as Online Analytic Process (OLAP) which gives decision makers the freedom to analyses information into different format business intelligence (BI) tools, data mining and data presentation tools. In this study, we attempted to identify DW needs to consider culture of organization and what organization actual wants for decision making. The study proposed the cost effective DW and BI tools solution to catalyze informed decision making in health care industry. The study also aims to discuss challenges and sets out recommendations

The Quality of Pharmacy Practice Among Dispensers in Private Pharmacies: A Case Study in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The quality of pharmacy practice provided by dispensers in private pharmacies was studied. Parameters used include levels of education of the dispensers, access to health information, knowledge and practice regarding dispensing of drugs to patients, and disposal of expired drugs. A total of 150 dispensers selected from 150 pharmacies participated in the study. Data was collected by interviewing the dispensers through structured questionnaires and observations. Regarding the levels of education of the respondents, the study revealed that 26.7 % had neither pharmaceutical nor medical education and that only 25.3 % of the respondents had regular access to health information. However, results showed that 75 % of all pharmacists interviewed were knowledgeable about good practice regarding dispensing of drugs to patients. Further, the results revealed that 92.7 % of the pharmacies had their drugs arranged on the shelves according to pharmacological classification. Results on assessment of knowledge about disposing of expired drugs showed 66.7% of the respondents were not knowledgeable. It is concluded that, there is a need for training of dispensers on good pharmacy practice through continuing education in order to achieve quality pharmaceutical services in private pharmacies. Key Words: Pharmacy practice, dispensers, pharmaceutical services, private pharmacies. East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol.5(2) 2002: 24-2

An Integrated TCGA Pan-Cancer Clinical Data Resource to Drive High-Quality Survival Outcome Analytics

For a decade, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) program collected clinicopathologic annotation data along with multi-platform molecular profiles of more than 11,000 human tumors across 33 different cancer types. TCGA clinical data contain key features representing the democratized nature of the data collection process. To ensure proper use of this large clinical dataset associated with genomic features, we developed a standardized dataset named the TCGA Pan-Cancer Clinical Data Resource (TCGA-CDR), which includes four major clinical outcome endpoints. In addition to detailing major challenges and statistical limitations encountered during the effort of integrating the acquired clinical data, we present a summary that includes endpoint usage recommendations for each cancer type. These TCGA-CDR findings appear to be consistent with cancer genomics studies independent of the TCGA effort and provide opportunities for investigating cancer biology using clinical correlates at an unprecedented scale. Analysis of clinicopathologic annotations for over 11,000 cancer patients in the TCGA program leads to the generation of TCGA Clinical Data Resource, which provides recommendations of clinical outcome endpoint usage for 33 cancer types