Feminism in Islam: A Study of the Obstacles of Muslim Women Political Participation in Ghana

Religion plays an important role in the lives of individuals. It most especially highlights the dictates of the good and bad for people through its scriptures. In some societies, religion is infused into their cultures, making it difficult for the people to determine the difference. Ghana is known for its religious tolerance and also its belief in patriarchy among others. The country has a majority of about 70% citizens in the Christian faith, 17% in the Islamic faith and the remaining is shared between others which may include the traditional belief systems. This article seeks to highlight the impact of Islam on political participation in Ghana and Parliament in particular. The focus of this study is to discuss the question relating to the limited level of participation of Muslim women in parliament. In particular, the article assesses the Qur’anic teachings to find out if the same is responsible for the minimal level of political participation or has served as an obstacle to the goals of Muslim women aspiring to be parliamentarians in Ghana.

The impact of individual perceptual and cognitive factors on collective states in a data-driven fish school model

In moving animal groups, social interactions play a key role in the ability of individuals to achieve coordinated motion. However, a large number of environmental and cognitive factors are able to modulate the expression of these interactions and the characteristics of the collective movements that result from these interactions. Here, we use a data-driven fish school model (Calovi et al., 2018; Lei et al., 2020) to quantitatively investigate the impact of perceptual and cognitive factors on coordination and collective swimming patterns. The model describes the interactions involved in the coordination of burst-and-coast swimming in groups of Hemigrammus rhodostomus. We perform a comprehensive investigation of the respective impacts of two interactions strategies between fish based on the selection of the most or the two most influential neighbors, of the range and intensity of social interactions, of the intensity of individual random behavioral fluctuations, and of the group size, on the ability of groups of fish to coordinate their movements. We find that fish are able to coordinate their movements when they interact with their most or two most influential neighbors, provided that a minimal level of attraction between fish exist to maintain group cohesion. A minimal level of alignment is also required to allow the formation of schooling and milling. However, increasing the strength of social interactions does not necessarily enhance group cohesion and coordination. When attraction and alignment strengths are too high, or when the heading random fluctuations are too large, schooling and milling can no longer be maintained and the school switches to a swarming phase. Increasing the interaction range between fish has a similar impact on collective dynamics as increasing the strengths of attraction and alignment. Finally, we find that coordination and schooling occurs for a wider range of attraction and alignment strength in small group sizes.

Architectural Heritage Conservation in Nigeria: The Need for Innovative Techniques

Architectural heritage conservation in recent years has hinged on conventional methods and has failed to recognize innovative methods and emerging technologies. Consequently, in Nigeria, suboptimal conservation work results in the continual deterioration of architectural heritage, leading to the loss of heritage and its values and significance. The study, therefore, sought to examine challenges and prospects for implementing innovative techniques in the conservation of architectural heritage in Nigeria. The study examined three heritage conservation interventions in Nigeria, focusing on the applicability of innovative conservation methods for documentation, diagnosis, and treatment of deterioration of architectural heritage. Questionnaires were administered through purposive sampling to 40 heritage conservation professionals, with 31 (77.5%) completed and returned for analysis. A Cronbach’s alpha reliability test value of 0.76 established the validity of the research instrument. The findings affirmed that heritage professionals have low familiarity (mean value of 2.19) with innovative techniques for conservation of architectural heritage. Of the respondents, 41.9% had gained a minimal level of technical knowledge of how to implement innovative techniques in conservation interventions. Improving the performance of conservation interventions also ranked highly as a potential strength of implementing innovative techniques. Conclusively, there is a need to improve advocacy and training in innovative conservation techniques based on their ability to characterize architectural heritage materials and investigate their chemical composition, microstructure, and morphological features.

Wiles defect for Hecke algebras that are not complete intersections

In his work on modularity theorems, Wiles proved a numerical criterion for a map of rings $R\to T$ to be an isomorphism of complete intersections. He used this to show that certain deformation rings and Hecke algebras associated to a mod $p$ Galois representation at non-minimal level are isomorphic and complete intersections, provided the same is true at minimal level. In this paper we study Hecke algebras acting on cohomology of Shimura curves arising from maximal orders in indefinite quaternion algebras over the rationals localized at a semistable irreducible mod $p$ Galois representation $\bar {\rho }$ . If $\bar {\rho }$ is scalar at some primes dividing the discriminant of the quaternion algebra, then the Hecke algebra is still isomorphic to the deformation ring, but is not a complete intersection, or even Gorenstein, so the Wiles numerical criterion cannot apply. We consider a weight-2 newform $f$ which contributes to the cohomology of the Shimura curve and gives rise to an augmentation $\lambda _f$ of the Hecke algebra. We quantify the failure of the Wiles numerical criterion at $\lambda _f$ by computing the associated Wiles defect purely in terms of the local behavior at primes dividing the discriminant of the global Galois representation $\rho _f$ which $f$ gives rise to by the Eichler–Shimura construction. One of the main tools used in the proof is Taylor–Wiles–Kisin patching.

Poly(amino acid) based fibrous membranes with tuneable in vivo biodegradation

In this work two types of biodegradable polysuccinimide-based, electrospun fibrous membranes are presented. One contains disulfide bonds exhibiting a shorter (3 days) in vivo biodegradation time, while the other one has alkyl crosslinks and a longer biodegradation time (more than 7 days). According to the mechanical measurements, the tensile strength of the membranes is comparable to those of soft the connective tissues and visceral tissues. Furthermore, the suture retention test suggests, that the membranes would withstand surgical handling and in vivo fixation. The in vivo biocompatibility study demonstrates how membranes undergo in vivo hydrolysis and by the 3rd day they become poly(aspartic acid) fibrous membranes, which can be then enzymatically degraded. After one week, the disulfide crosslinked membranes almost completely degrade, while the alkyl-chain crosslinked ones mildly lose their integrity as the surrounding tissue invades them. Histopathology revealed mild acute inflammation, which diminished to a minimal level after seven days.

Praktik Arsitek dalam Pencarian Keseimbangan Baru

Title: Architect Practice in Search of Balance in New Norm Epidemic Covid 19 enforce us to retrospect our everdayness living, including how architects do for living and for the architectural practice. These condition makes some re- adjustement in architectural program, in some level must renovate totally. The biggest problem in architect profession is the project coordination, because social distancing and large number of meeting member must reduced to minimal level. This condition pushs architects to review their working process in studio and on the projects field. Physical studio is no longer a good place to collaborate and must transform into the digital studio. Digital system become a bridge to connect between stakeholders and the architects. Digital tools and method becoming an extention tools for our eyes and sense. Digital methods and practices suddenly become a daily activities for every level in architecture firms, such as Big Data. The colabortive works in digital format become important, one of them is Building Information Modelling, works as collabortive tools in virtual digital studio. The coding and the scripting are the next language for architect must learn, beside the architecture itself. Within the epidemic, disruption of profession is not a discourse anymore, but a fact that must commenced. Creativity and colaborative is the survival tools in today harsh life .

Grotesque, Shadow and Individuation: A Jungian Reading of Selected Short Stories by Tunku Halim and Edgar Allan Poe

In examining Malaysian literature in light of the global canon, one cannot miss the numerous parallelisms between literary works by Tunku Halim bin Tunku Abdullah and Edgar Allan Poe. Both writers are preoccupied with grotesque realities of mentally deranged individuals, and similarly visualize the darkness and animality of human consciousness. This article aims at conducting a comparative analysis of the dynamics of personality and of the psyche of fictional characters in selected short stories by the two writers. To this end, the study draws upon Jung’s notions of the Shadow and the Individuation to explore the key psychological motives behind the characters’ behaviour patterns, as well as to examine their level of subjectivity and agency in harnessing the same motives. Notwithstanding the seemingly different ways of presenting the narrative patterns of the characters’ journey towards Individuation, the selected stories are marked with similar examples of characters’ failures in the process of self-realization. While some characters remain trapped in the obscure and perplexing world of the Shadow, others achieve a minimal level of maturity as they begin to realize their own being. In the case of Halim’s stories, however, the characters are additionally held back by cultural and structural forces that constantly affect their realities. It is concluded that this particular difference accounts for Halim’s uniquely hybrid style of writing that merges Western horror genre with more local folklore.

A Physical Activity Practice Index for Older Students and Adults

This article puts forward a physical activity practice (PAP) index that could be used by older students (high school and college level) and adults who wish to monitor their PAP in order to regulate it. Authors explain the origin of the PAP index, identify PAP aspects such as frequency, duration, intensity and diversity as they relate to the index and describe the simple mechanics of its computation. Then, they discuss physical literacy (PL) awareness in terms of competence, knowledge and understanding, motivation toward PAP, and actual physical activity (PA) engagement. Regulation scenarios are presented in association with individuals’ PAP awareness. Finally, a few suggestions are added with regard to tailored PAP monitoring for more engaged physical literate persons. The PAP index described is intended to help individuals monitor their PAP over time, taking simultaneously into account its intensity and volume whatever the selected activity(ies). Willingness to monitor one’s PAP implies at least a minimal level of PL awareness. Besides reflecting on their PA-related knowledge and PA competency and capacities, individuals ought to understand their reasons for engaging into the regular practice of PA. Based on their answers to such questions, they can then engage into regulation scenarios with the help of monitoring instruments such as the one discussed in this article. Keywords: physical literacy, physical-literacy awareness, physical-activity-practice awareness, FITT formula, PAP monitoring

Law and Order in México Profundo

This chapter analyses the high incidence of state and non-state violence, establishes a typology of violence and demonstrates how and why homicide rates began their enduring decline c.1950. Saddled with traditionally feeble law enforcement agencies, a turbulent countryside, and a free market of violence, post-revolutionary governments relied on informal arrangements with soldiers, caciques and pistoleros to preserve a minimal level of law and order. A case study of one such pistolero, the veracruzano Crispín Aguilar, illustrates the high costs of those arrangements to both state and public. The governments of the period created professional police forces and reduced the autonomy of pistoleros and the military. The result was an uneven, reversible but long-term reduction in violence, in particular in the disorderly countryside. Generally adroit management of both state and non-state violence turned into a pillar of the PRI’s longevity.

Anthracene induces oxidative stress and activation of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes in Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyta)

In order to analyze whether the marine macroalga Ulva lactuca can absorb and metabolize anthracene (ANT), the alga was cultivated with 5 µM ANT for 0–72 h, and the level of ANT was detected in the culture medium, and in the alga. The level of ANT rapidly decreased in the culture medium reaching a minimal level at 6 h, and rapidly increased in the alga reaching a maximal level at 12 h and then decreased to reach a minimal level at 48 h of culture. In addition, ANT induced an increase in hydrogen peroxide that remained until 72 h and a higher increase in superoxide anions that reach a maximal level at 24 h and remained unchanged until 72 h, indicating that ANT induced an oxidative stress condition. ANT induced an increase in lipoperoxides that reached a maximal level at 24 h and decreased at 48 h indicating that oxidative stress caused membrane damage. The activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT, AP, GR and GP increased in the alga treated with ANT whereas DHAR remained unchanged. The level of transcripts encoding these antioxidant enzymes increased and those encoding DHAR did not change. Inhibitors of monooxygenases, dioxygenases, polyphenol oxidases, glutathione-S-transferases and sulfotransferases induced an increase in the level of ANT in the alga cultivated for 24 h. These results strongly suggest that ANT is rapidly absorbed and metabolized in U. lactuca and the latter involves Phase I and II metabolizing enzymes.