Abstract:Continuous professional development in schools is hereby viewed as a process of improving staff skills and competencies needed to produce outstanding educational outputs and outcomes for students. The study was undertaken with the basic purpose of establishing the nature of continuous professional development programmes prevailing in South African schools. The Age and Stage Theory under the adult learning theories offered guidance in the design and development of this study. This research adopted a qualitative case study as its research design. The interpretive paradigm assisted the researchers in choosing the appropriate research method and design. Individual interviews, focus group discussions and documentary evidence were engaged as data collection methods. As a result, data was triangulated to allow the researchers to check on inferences drawn from one source of data with data from other sources. The population from which the study sample was drawn is defined as all Pietersburg Circuit secondary schools in Polokwane urban. Two subjects for the study were principals and educators. Five schools were from the population to make a sample for the study. The sample consisted of 5 principals and 10 educators to give a total sample size of 15. The researchers employed the purposive sampling technique. Thematic analysis was engaged in analysing data. The study concluded that three main brands of continuous professional development namely, school-initiated, educator-initiated and externally-initiated prevailed.
Abstract:Background\nStromal vascular fraction (SVF) has been known to be involved in angiogenesis and cell differentiation and adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSC) is classified as an adult stem cell because it has been found to have the ability to differentiate into many other cells. We compared the effect of SVF on fresh fat tissue graft versus ADSC on cryopreserved fat tissue graft under identical condition in mice to validate optimal strategy for autogenous fat grafting.\nMethods\nAdipose tissue was obtained by suction assisted lipectomy from the lower abdomen of a 22-year-old healthy woman undergoing correction of facial asymmetry for cosmetic purposes. In animal experiments, 40 male nude mice, weighing 20-30 g, were used to observe the survival rate of human fat grafts in animal models.\nResults\nAt 8 weeks after transplantation, the fresh fat group showed a remarkably higher survival rate than the other groups, and the fat graft survival was significantly higher in the SVF and ADSC groups. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that the SVF group had significantly higher expression levels of many angiogenesis related genes, including VEGF and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), than the fresh fat group. The ADSC group showed higher expression levels with HGF, IL-6, MMP-2 and TNF-α than the cryopreserved fat group.\nConclusion\nFresh fat with SVF should be used if possible, because the success rate of fresh fat in fat transplantation has a significant effect, and ADSC should be cultured in preparation for the use of frozen fat in unavoidable circumstances such as volume reduction.
Abstract:The existence of a favorable natural environment, the variety of the relief and the soil, the richness of the hydrographic network, correlated with the extension of the pastures and hay fields have favored the development of vast pastoral landscapes, in the Carpathian Mountains. The rural resident must be aware that the traditional family farm (micro-farm) is an element of the landscape, part of the cultural heritage. He can use it efficiently, in order to obtain sources of income from the capitalization of dairy products and meat (coming from the family surplus), from the practice of agritourism etc. Pastoral practice must adapt to the new “timesˮ socio -economic and political, and become from a millennial occupation, an agricultural phenomenon (the trade, transhumance, the bath and the haircut of the sheep etc.). In our opinion, it is alarming that these traditional pastoral landscapes created, developed and preserved over the centuries and the millennia are now, in the last years, rapidly disappearing or being transformed.
Abstract:Abstract\nObjectives: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychological state in which patients recognize a distorted perception of their body images. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of BDD in patients seeking orthodontic treatment via a systematic review of the scientific literature. Further, in the meta-analysis, the emphasis was to explore the central tendency and level of significance in cases of BDD seeking orthodontic treatment. \nData sources: A detailed scientific literature search was conducted utilizing the most relevant scientific studies between 2000 and 2020. We searched various databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scielo databases. The MedCalc tool was used for the meta-analysis.\nData selection: We analysed a total of 1745 participants enrolled in five different studies. The clinical diagnosis results showed 122 cases of BDD-YBOCS (based on the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale for BDD score) seeking orthodontic treatment. A significant increase (5–10%) in the number of BDD cases opting for orthodontic treatment was noted, and female patients with BDD showed a higher tendency of seeking orthodontic treatment than the male patients. Considering the forest plot and funnel plot analyses, a significant increase in the cases of BDD was observed (P < 0.0001).\nConclusions: The patients with BDD seeking orthodontic treatment have increased over the last two decades (range: 5–10%). Orthodontists are recommended for these cases of BDD seeking multiple consultations.
Abstract:The article presents the results of an empirical study of indicators of psychological well-being of Social Work specialists as a type of professional activity, characterized by multifunctionality, wide functional and role repertoire, significant psycho-emotional loadings associated with providing assistance to vulnerable people. The low levels of psychological well-being were found in a large number of people under investigation. Groups of Social Work professionals with high and low levels of psychological well-being were identified and their socio-demographic characteristics were characterized. Gender-age differences in the psychological well-being of the investigated are determined, as well as differences in psychologically prosperous and disadvantaged professionals, depending on their level of education, place of residence and employment in the professional sphere, indicating a lack of psychological well-being in social work statistics significant relationship between the psychological well-being of the researchers and their world assumptions about the environment, other people and themselves. The expediency of organizing a special psychological support of social work specialists in the context of facilitating the transformation of basic installations in the constructive direction, and, as a consequence, ensuring their psychological well-being have stated.
Abstract:The study aims to find out the first genuses of lacustrine (non-marine) diatoms from the Miocene period of western Anatolia, Turkey. Therefore, samples are collected from three different diatomite strata in the ooze unit (diatomite and chalk togetherness) in the sedimentary sequence in the Seydiler region (Afyonkarahisar, Turkey), and the lacustrine diatom faunas of the samples were determined using FEI Nova Nano 650 Scanning Electron Microscope with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometer (SEM-EDX).This study area covers the Seydiler region, which is one of the deposit areas in one of the lakes that remained from Paleo-Tethys in the Miocene period of the Western Anatolia. In the study, Ellerbeckia, Eunotia, Gomphonema, Halamphora, Pinnularia, and Staurosira were found to be the major diatom faunas in the Seydiler ooze deposit. All three genuses of the Staurosira genus namely, Staurosira construens, Staurosirella pinnata3, and Staurosirella pinnata6, were entirely imaged and named in this floristic result.As can be seen, these preliminary genuses form the benthic freshwater diatom fauna, which symbolizes the shallow paleo-lacustrine environment and cold climate conditions.
Abstract:This study presents relationships between results of laboratory measurements and data collected from well logging (including outcomes of a comprehensive interpretation) from three boreholes in the Baltic Basin (North Poland) drilling the Silurian and Ordovician formations. Laboratory experiments examined about 70 samples of mudstone lithology to obtain total and effective porosity; bulk, grain, and material density; total organic carbon; physical permeability; total pore area and pore distribution; and mineral components. Some rock samples were further studied using mercury injection porosimetry, helium porosimetry, dual liquid porosimetry, NMR, N2 adsorption/desorption, rock-eval pyrolysis, and XRD to obtain coherent petrophysical information from heterogeneous claystone / mudstone and their organic matter. Natural radioactivity, bulk density, total porosity, volume of kerogen, and other quantities were determined from continuous curves obtained from well logging with prior depth matching, used to account for the different vertical resolution of logs and point data from the laboratory. The goal was complete characterization of the shale gas formation in various aspects to support the thesis that the Silurian and Ordovician Polish shale gas formations encompass great diversity.
Abstract:Purpose: This article analyses the most important financial participation programmes (FPP) in Poland to show the relationship between the programmes applied and the socio-economic results of enterprises, and assesses the impact of participation on these results and the impact of selected factors on the introduction of FPP.\nMethodology: The research has been based on a questionnaire answered by senior management of listed Polish companies that had at least one out of three major FPPs in operation, namely share ownership, profit-sharing or a stock option scheme. \nFindings: The results of the empirical study conducted by Author indicate the existence of some particular relationships. The vast majority of schemes in Polish public companies are aimed at participation of the management personnel; these programmes are narrow-based (only for management) and rather hermetic, with a high concentration of stocks or shares in the hands of the management.\nConclusion: FPPs generally have a positive influence on enterprise functioning. However, the effects are more social than economic (no significant economic improvement after programme implementation). The paper contributes to the debate about financial participation and suggests actions to popularise these programmes on a wider scale.
Abstract:Hacking is an unauthorized access to computer data to steal personal information of another. Computer Misuse Act 1990 in United Kingdom, Computer Crimes Act 1997 in Malaysia and Islamic Penal Code as well as Computer Crimes Act 2009 in Iran deal with the issue of hacking. Cyberspace identity theft does not occur until unauthorized access occurs. In United Kingdom and Malaysia intent is not required to be directed towards any program or data of any kind or computer while under Computer Crimes Act 2009 requires in relation to secured data. Notion of unauthorized access is computer protection by security measures, this security element is not applicable in United Kingdom and Malaysia. Perpetrator must have breached security measures to qualify for unauthorized access. Articles 1 and 4 of Computer Crimes Act 2009 require computers to be protected with security measures to meet requirement of unauthorized access in Iran while it applies to cyberspace identity theft. Iran also does not recognize concept of exceeding unauthorized access while United Kingdom and Malaysia directly stress on this and treat this as an offence to prevent authorized person from misusing authority. This makes it possible for cyberspace identity theft offences to be easily committed by those who have prior authority for accessing data. This article adopts qualitative method of research a comparative analysis of cyberspace identity theft laws of Malaysia, United Kingdom and Iran.
Abstract:Literature shows that although effective teaching is vital for student learning in Higher Education, academics are not as prepared for their teaching careers as they are for their research, hence the call for professionalization of teaching in Higher Education. Recent trends in Higher Education make the development of academic teaching skills a priority. The Department of Higher Education and Training has also encouraged institutions of Higher Education to make conceited efforts in improving teaching skills of academics. In response, universities have put in place various programmes to promote professionalization of lecturers. The purpose of the study is to determine the extent to which professional qualification impacts teaching and learning. The study adopts a desktop approach. Academics are constantly faced with new challenges or opportunities within their teaching context and might need some insight, knowledge, support or creative ideas on how to handle these situations. Universities should design appropriate professional development programmes to help academics develop professionally by equipping them with new skills and strategies to teach and inspire their learners. The study concludes that, to transform education in South Africa it is necessary for academics to be appropriately equipped to meet its evolving challenges and needs.