Blackboard Blogging & beyond

This Share contains videos and links to help you get up to speed with blogging using Blackboard, Blackboard blogs are nice safe places to start blogging and although they don't look cool, there alright ! Then check out tumblr, wordpress or blogger to start blogging on your own in public

In search of a new China:mineral demand in South and Southeast Asia

China’s industrialisation transformed global markets for mineral commodities. As growth in China slows and becomes less material intensive, the question arises whether countries of South and Southeast Asia can take up the baton from China and give a further boost to global mineral demand. The economic prospects of South and Southeast Asia are undoubtedly promising, helped by growing populations and a fast-expanding middle class. However, the model of growth being embraced by these countries is different from that of China and likely to be less material intensive. Also, many of them are economically coming off a very low base. With respect to the supply of minerals to the region, the impact of India’s growth on global mineral markets will be limited by the fact that many of India’s mineral needs can be met from domestic sources. In Southeast Asia, some of the mineral requirements will be met from domestic resources while some of its requirements for finished metals will likely continue to be met from China which is a heavy investor in the region and which has massive surplus metallurgical capacity.</p

Vision Mātauranga research directions: opportunities for iwi and hapū management plans

(c) 2021 The Author/sThe Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Vision Mātauranga policy has created a clear message for researchers in Aotearoa/New Zealand – that research conducted in Aotearoa New Zealand should recognise and support the ‘unlocking of the innovative potential of Māori for the benefit of all New Zealand’ and be designed with a clear engagement pathway. However, there is still confusion amongst many researchers on where to begin when considering the Vision Mātauranga component of their research. Iwi and hapū management plans are a valuable resource for researchers to use as a starting point when planning projects, particularly with regard to Vision Mātauranga opportunities. Many of these plans outline the issues, challenges and resource priorities that an iwi or hapū may have, as well providing historical context for their knowledge and experiences. Despite their usefulness, our research found that only 22% of natural hazard researchers surveyed used them in their research process. The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of the value of these plans for researchers, particularly when developing a research project; and to provide a starting point for engagement opportunities and activities with Māori

Optimization and Reproducibility of Aortic Valve 18F-Fluoride Positron Emission Tomography in Patients With Aortic Stenosis

$\textbf{BACKGROUND}$: 18F-Fluoride positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) can measure disease activity and progression in aortic stenosis. Our objectives were to optimize the methodology, analysis, and scan-rescan reproducibility of aortic valve 18F-fluoride PET-CT imaging. $\textbf{METHODS AND RESULTS}$: Fifteen patients with aortic stenosis underwent repeated 18F-fluoride PET-CT. We compared nongated PET and noncontrast CT, with a modified approach that incorporated contrast CT and ECG-gated PET. We explored a range of image analysis techniques, including estimation of blood-pool activity at differing vascular sites and a most diseased segment approach. Contrast-enhanced ECG-gated PET-CT permitted localization of 18F-fluoride uptake to individual valve leaflets. Uptake was most commonly observed at sites of maximal mechanical stress: the leaflet tips and the commissures. Scan-rescan reproducibility was markedly improved using enhanced analysis techniques leading to a reduction in percentage error from ±63% to ±10% (tissue to background ratio MDS mean of 1.55, bias -0.05, limits of agreement -0·20 to +0·11). $\textbf{CONCLUSIONS}$: Optimized 18F-fluoride PET-CT allows reproducible localization of calcification activity to different regions of the aortic valve leaflet and commonly to areas of increased mechanical stress. This technique holds major promise in improving our understanding of the pathophysiology of aortic stenosis and as a biomarker end point in clinical trials of novel therapies. $\textbf{CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION}$ - URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02132026.The study was funded by the British Heart Foundation (FS/14/78/31020). Drs Pawade, Cartlidge, Jenkins, Dweck, and Newby are supported by the British Heart Foundation (SS/CH/09/002/26360, FS/13/77/30488, SS/CH/09/002/2636, FS/14/78/31020, and CH/09/002). Dr Newby is the recipient of a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator Award (WT103782AIA). Dr Dweck is the recipient of the Sir Jules Thorn Award for Biomedical Research 2015. Dr Adamson is supported by New Zealand Overseas Training and Research Fellowship (1607) and Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation (50–534). The Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility and the Clinical Research Imaging Centre are supported by NHS Research Scotland (NRS) through NHS Lothian. Dr Rudd is partly supported by the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, the British Heart Foundation, and the Wellcome Trust

KDRT PERSPEKTIF UNDANG-UNDANG NOMOR 23 TAHUN 2004 DAN ANALISIS MAQASHID SYARI’AH

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui bagaimana konsep KDRT menurut UU. No. 23/2004 tentang Kekerasan Dalam Rumah Tangga dan ditinjaun Maqashid Syari‟ah serta solusi dan cara yang ditawarkan untuk mengatasai kasus KDRT. Penelitian ini adalah Penelitian pustaka, dengan sumber bahan hukum primer UU. No. 23/2004, bahan hukum sekunder kitab dan buku-buku, bahan hukum tersier kamus dan ensiklopedi. Analisis data menggunakan metode deskriptif dan konten analisis. Hasil penelitian konsep kekerasan menurut UU. No. 23/2004 yaitu: kekerasan fisik, kekerasan psikis, kekerasan seksual dan penelantaran rumah tangga. KDRT ditinjau Menurut Maqashid yaitu: (1) Pasal 5 huruf (a) tentang kekerasan fisik sudah sejalan dengan maqashid syariah menjaga jiwa (hifdul nafs), (2) Pasal 5 huruf (b) tentang kekerasan fisik sudah sejalan dengan maqashid syariah menjaga kehormatan (hifdul aradh) dan juga menjaga jiwa (hifdzul nafs), (3) terkhusus pada Pasal 5 huruf (c) sudah sejalan dengan maqashid syariah menjaga nasab atau keturunan (hifzul nasl) dan (4) Pasal 5 huruf (d) tentang penelantaran rumah tangga sudah sejalan dengan maqashid syariah menjaga jiwa (hifdul nafs). Dengan adanya Pasal tersebut seorang suami selaku kepala rumah tangga tidak sewenang-wenang menelantarkan istri dan anak-anaknya serta orang yang berada di bawah asuhannya seperti orang tua yang sudah renta dan tidak sanggup lagi untuk berusaha atau saudara-saudarnya yang berada di bawah perwalian atau pengampuan serta tanggungjawab seseorang berdasarkan putusan pengadilan. Solusinya yaitu (1) Menjalin komunikasi dengan baik; (2) Saling percaya dan hindari prasangka buruk; (3) mendapatkan sanksi yang berat sesuai aturan Pelaku KDRT; (4) Terapkan dan Laksanakan Perjanjian Perkawinan; (5) Laksanakan hak dan kewajiban suami istri dan (6) hindari nikah muda. Kata Kunci: KDRT, UU. No. 23/2004, Maqashid Syaria

Durability monitoring of long-lasting insecticidal (mosquito) nets (LLINs) in Madagascar: physical integrity and insecticidal activity

Abstract Background Long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets (LLINs) are highly effective for malaria prevention. However, it is also clear that durability monitoring is essential to predict when, post-distribution, a net population, no longer meets minimum WHO standards and needs to be replaced. Following a national distribution campaign in 2013, we tracked two durability indicators, physical integrity and bio-efficacy at six and 12 months post-distribution. While the loss of net integrity during this period was in line with expectations for a one-year net life, bio-efficacy results suggested that nets were losing insecticidal effect faster than expected. The rate of bio-efficacy loss varied significantly between different net brands. Methods We tested 600 randomly selected LLINs, 200 from each of three net brands. Each brand came from different eco-epidemiological zones reflecting the original distribution scheme. Fabric integrity (size and number of holes) was quantified using the proportional hole index (pHI). A subsample of the nets, 134 new nets, 150 at six months and 124 at 12 months, were then tested for bio-efficacy using the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended method. Results Three net types, Netprotect®, Royalsentry® and Yorkool®, were followed. After six months, 54%, 39% and 45%, respectively, showed visible loss of integrity. The median pHI by type was estimated to be one, zero and one respectively. The percentage of damaged nets increased after 12 months such that 83.5%, 74% and 68.5%, had holes. The median pHI for each brand of nets was 47.5, 47 and 23. No significant difference in the estimated pHI at either six or 12 months was observed. There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of hole size category between the three brands (χ 2 = 15.761, df = 4, P = 0.003). In cone bio-assays, mortality of new Yorkool® nets was surprisingly low (48.6%), mortality was 90.2% and 91.3% for Netprotect® and Royalsentry® (F (2, 131) = 81.59, P < 0.0001), respectively. At 12 month use, all tested nets were below the WHO threshold for replacement. Conclusion These findings suggest that there is a need for better net quality control before distribution. More frequent replacement of LLINs is probably not an option programmatically. Regardless of prior approval, LLIN durability monitoring for quality assessment as well as net loss following distribution is necessary to improve malaria control efforts

Fibres for Sportswear

This book describes the differences between woven and knitted structures, provides an understanding of fabric behavior and the characteristics of a functional garment, and outlines the importance of garment fit and consumer perception of ..