Archive of Journal
Volume 75, Issue 11, Nov. 2019

CIRCUMCISION AMONG XHOSA ADOLESCENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Volume 75, Nov 2019
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.11.15

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Abstract: This investigation aims at examining cultural circumcision as practised by Xhosa-speaking South Africans who predominantly live in the Eastern Cape Province. This practice is based on an indigenous culture in South Africa; as in fact; it is in other parts of Africa. Suh practice has been rather controversial. This Paper aims at examining in details what operationally occurs when it is administered to the Xhosa speaking South African.

Author(s): Tuntufye S Mwamwenda

VOLUNTARY MALE CIRCUMCISION IN SOUTH AFRICA & AFRICA

Volume 75, Nov 2019
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.11.16

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Abstract: Voluntary Male Circumcision in South Africa & Africa is western-based practice. This is advocated for all South Africans, regardless of their colour or race. The objective of this circumcision is for the control and prevention of HIV/AIDS nationwide. Both the cultural and Western forms of circumcision are of a controversial nature in South Africa. The aim of this Investigation is to examine, the merits and demerits of such nature of the controversy.

Author(s): Tuntufye S Mwamwenda

FAMILY AND MARRIAGE COUNSELLING IN AFRICA

Volume 75, Nov 2019
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.11.17

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Abstract: Guidance and counselling are discussed in this paper with learners in mind. Learners are part of the family and therefore some of their problems may require family counselling. This part of the Paper is addressed to prospective teachers and practising teachers who are counsellors in the school system. On the assumption that it will contribute to a stable marriage, if they are already married, or contribute to their preparation for such a marriage. Besides, many teachers play the role of counsellors in the community; as a result of their status and the respect accorded them. It is imperative therefore that such information be made available for this purpose

Author(s): Tuntufye S Mwamwenda

EFFECT OF THE AGE OF CULTIVATION OF THE CEREAL FIELDS CONDUCTED UNDER PIVOTS ON THE CHARACTERISTICS AND DYNAMICS OF THE ADVENTITIOUS FLORA IN THE REGION OF OUARGLA (SOUTH-EAST ALGERIA)

Volume 75, Nov 2019
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.11.14

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Abstract: The cereal culture under centre spindle is of recent creation, it was the object of an establishment in an ecosystem characterized by a natural and typical unprompted flora. The cereal fields, represent a middle to strong pressures which can, with the development of agrarian techniques, lead to answers adapted to the introduced flora that can evolve fast in an intrusive flora. However, unprompted kinds, who must have developed strategies to survive and reproduce in frustration especially of the use of pesticides, will be systematically destroyed on their middle with as consequence, a threat of disappearing of a flora perfectly adapted to Saharan conditions.\r\nFor it and in a purpose to update the inventory of the plants of the cereal fields and have a knowledge on their biology, ecology and sharing out for the region of Ouargla, as well as to put in an obvious place the impact of different agrarian practices on the unprompted flora, taking into account of its permanence, we performed a job which concerned the inventory of the complete flora of three experimental stations kept for their ages of bet in culture. Inventory, allowed to bring to light, a comparatively rich accidental flora in cash, characterized by the dominance of the introduced messicoles provided principally by Poaceae, characteristic family, par excellence, of the accidental flora of the cereal fields in our region of study.\r\nThe parameter age of bet in culture had a significant effect on composition, in cash introduced and unprompted, of the complete accidental flora of the experimental stations. They attend a phenomenon of impoverishment of the typical unprompted flora and an enrichment accentuated in the time of the messicole introduced flora which became more and more intrusive.\r\nKey words: Flora messicole, introduced flora, unprompted flora, diversity, dominance, cereal culture under centre spindle, Algeria.

Author(s): Sayed Ibtissem, Hamid Cheloufi, Omar Eddoud


THE GENDERASPECT OF LABOR IN THEREPUBLIC OF DAGESTAN: A SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Volume 75, Nov 2019
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.11.13

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Abstract: This article is devoted to the urgent topic of gender inequality in labor relations in Russia. The study was conducted in the summer of 2019 on the territory of the Republic of Dagestan - one of the most multinational republics of Russia, where, compared with the European part of the country, a traditional family lifestyle has matured to a large extent. Based on the history of the emancipation of women in Dagestan and our studies, we conclude that there are contradictions in the Republic caused by the fact that the traditional social system, when the man was the only earner in the family, is a thing of the past, but the tendency to equal rights within the family and the distribution of household duties is also not observed, as a result of which the woman bears the burden of homework, and the obligation to earn money.

Author(s): DZUTSEV Khasan Vladimirovich, DIBIROVA Aminat Parukovna, KORNIENKO Natalya Vladimirovna


PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP – PERSPECTIVES FROM THE FIELD, BOTSWANA

Volume 75, Nov 2019
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.11.10

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Abstract: Background: Public health management and leadership are widely recognized as paramount to health system performance. This study explores the understanding of public sector managers� knowledge and understanding of healthcare management and leadership as a field of study relevant to strengthening health system. It is intended to provide policy makers and stakeholders with insights on current system performance gaps and help them develop context-fit management and leadership interventions.\r\n\r\nMethods: This study used an exploratory approach that involved in-depth interviews with public sector managers and leaders at central and district level. A total of sixteen managers and leaders were interviewed (5 central level, 11 district level). Data collected from the interviews was transcribed and analysed thematically. \r\n\r\nFindings and Discussion: Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts identified three main themes: limited understanding that healthcare management and leadership is a field of study and profession; limited competencies impacting the performance of managers and leaders and limited career progression; and the ability to manage complexity in the health system. \r\n\r\nConclusion: Public health managers and leaders� limited knowledge and understanding of healthcare management and leadership as a field of study and profession will likely hinder a systematic approach and capacity development for healthcare managers and leaders.

Author(s): DINTLE MOLOSIWA, Gina Teddy


STUDY OF MEDICAGO SATIVA RESPONSE TO INOCULATION BY RHIZOBIA INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS AND INTRODUCEDIN SEMI ARID AREA (WEST OF ALGERIA

Volume 75, Nov 2019
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.11.12

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Abstract: The introduction of Medicago sativa in the semi-arid area of Ain-El-Hadjar (Saida), allowed us to study the response of inoculation of this legume with native rhizobia strains (M101, M306, M307) selected from the soils of the demonstration farm of ITELV compared to the introduced strains (ORN 06 ORN and 89).\\r\\nThe results obtained at the experimental fields namely on determining the number of nodules, the amount of dry matter of shoot and root parts which show significant variability between the effects of different strains that were analyzed statistically according to the test of the least significant difference (ANOVA P <0.05).\\r\\nSome strains introduced only as native have given quite significant results compared to controls and to the contribution of nitrogen fertilizer (urea). Increases in yields of biomass (stage 2 compound leaves) of about 20% compared with the control to indigenous strains and 17.5% for those introduced were recorded.\\r\\nAboriginal M307 strain distinguished compared to all other strains and compared to nitrogen fertilization with a biomass increase of 31% over the control and a value equal to that of nitrogen fertilization (stage 2 leaves place). But at flowering, forage yield exceeded that of nitrogen fertilization of 24% and 64% that of the control (with respectively 4.10 tons; 2.80 tons and 2.5 tons per hectare).

Author(s): Soria Fares, Meriem Kaid-Harche, Abdelkader Ammam, Miloud Aouissat, Naima Berber, Abdel Kader Bekki


A NODE REGULATED DEFLECTION ROUTING SCHEME FOR CONTENTION MINIMZATION

Volume 75, Nov 2019
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.11.9

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Abstract: The design and gradual deployment of all-optical\r\nbackbone network architectures will lead to the provisioning of\r\nenough bandwidth demands of future Internet of Things (IoT)�s\r\napplications and services. Current and future global traffic is increasingly\r\nbecoming heterogeneous as well as displaying structural\r\nself-similarity. Optical Burst Switching (OBS) is a practically\r\ncost-effective switching paradigm that can possibly address the\r\nmismatches between DWDM Terabit per second technology transmission\r\nspeeds and the required ultra-switching capabilities to\r\nserve the global traffic. Structurally, an OBS-switched backbone\r\nnetwork comprises buffered edge as well as bufferless core (interior)\r\nnodes. Because of the bufferless nature of the interior nodes,\r\nthe core of such networks tends to be quite prone to frequent contention\r\noccurrences that can easily cause significant overall network\r\nperformance degradation due to sporadic heavy burst loses.\r\nSuch drawbacks can be partly countered by appropriately dimensioning\r\navailable network resources, and reactively by way of deflecting\r\nexcess as well as contending traffic to available alternate\r\npaths. In doing so, diverted traffic must not trigger network performance\r\ndegradation in the deflection paths. Because minimizing\r\ncontentions is key to provisioning a consistent quality of service\r\n(QoS), we thus in this paper propose and analyze a scheme that\r\nseeks to intelligently deflect traffic in the core network such that\r\nQoS degradations caused by contention occurrences are negligible.\r\nSince contention minimization will lead to improved overall\r\nnetwork performance, we herein propose a regulated deflection\r\nrouting scheme (rDr) that utilizes neural network agents to reinforce\r\nthe deflection routing decisions at core nodes. The scheme is\r\nevaluated by way of simulations and results show that it can minimize\r\nburst loses as well as keep end-to-end delays for the various\r\napplications to within acceptable bounds. It also significantly reduces\r\nthe frequency of contention occurrences as well as burst deflections.

Author(s): Bakhe Nleya, Andrew Mutsvangwa


FACEBOOK AS A MEDIUM FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING IN HIGHER EDUCATION: STUDENT VOICES

Volume 75, Nov 2019
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.11.11

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Abstract: This paper reports on a study that examined the use of Facebook as a learning management system for an Information Systems course at a university. The purpose of the study was to explore a different platform to facilitate learning for students � referred to as digital natives � who are often resistant to traditional methods of learning and teaching. An online question-naire using Google docs provided quantitative data from a sample of 50 students in the form of scaled and open-ended questions. The study is underpinned by the Technology Ac-ceptance Model (TAM). Inferential statistics were used to identify significant correlations between constructs that influence the student�s behavioural intention to use Facebook for learning. Attitude was found to be the best predictor of intention to use facebook. Drawing from student perceptions of using the social network for learning, this paper shows that there are positive factors associated with the use of Facebook as a learning environment. The find-ings of the study are useful for the university by providing insight into learning via a social network for educational purposes. A web-based environment such as Facebook may be con-ducive to learning as opposed to formally structured LMS such as Moodle.

Author(s): Irene Govender, Manesh Purshotam


PROSPECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN AZERBAIJAN AND THE ROLE OF HISTORICAL FACTORS AZERBAIJAN STATE UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS – UNEC

Volume 75, Nov 2019
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.11.6

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Abstract: Tourism in the modern world is an economic, social and environmental fact that interests all countries. With its natural and historical richness and climatic conditions, Azerbaijan has a very rich tourism potential. In today\'s fast-paced competition, improvement of the efficiency of existing capacity is a priority for the country. The rapid and diversified development of the nonoil sector, especially the tourism sector, plays an important role in the formation of a competitive and sustainable development economy in Azerbaijan. The multiplicative impact of the tourism sector on the country\'s economy, along with macroeconomic indicators such as employment, living standards, the achievement of a positive balance of payments, has a positive impact on the development of areas directly related to this sector: service, agriculture, transport and communications. At the same time, tourism development also offers ample opportunities to increase revenues from culture, sports, healthcare and other social sectors

Author(s): Jamila Hasanova Vagif, Kamala Najafova Akif


A LIMITED INTERMEDIATE NODE BUFFERING BASED RWA SCHEME IN OBS BACKBONE NETWORKS

Volume 75, Nov 2019
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.11.4

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Abstract: An all optical backbone Optical Burst Switched (OBS) network comprises of a multitude of optical transport sub-systems erected in commercial, residential as well as industrial areas. The heterogeneous nature of the large volumes of traffic generated by various applications and services ideally requires an optical backbone network infrastructure to accommodate it. Such a network must be continuously adaptable to the changing nature of the traffic as well as its spontaneous growth with time. In so doing, it has to ensure high end-to-end quality of service (QoS), availability as well as provision adaptable controllability in cooperation with peripheral (service) layer networks. To successfully design and deploy a cost-effective backbone network, consideration must be taken with regards to system configuration, as well as in applied devices manufacturing. This is to ensure that any component failure does not add any noticeable performance degradation as the network will quickly reconfigure itself accordingly. At operational level, effective routing approaches are necessary to ensure minimized congestion as well as contention occurrences. The aggregation of both transit and local traffic at a node influences each other such as to aggravate congestion and to a certain extent reduce contention occurrences (due to the streamline effect). In this paper, we propose a priority based intermediate Node Buffering based PIB-RWA scheme to combat the problem of contention occurrences and to prevent bursts discarding. It basically selects primary as well as deflection paths/links based on past contention frequency occurrences as well as current resources states in the candidate paths. Furthermore, the scheme also augments intermediate buffering provisioning for contending data bursts that are almost reaching the destination. Simulation results show that the scheme performs well in terms of key QoS metrics such as network throughput, data burst loss probabilities as well as load balancing

Author(s): Bakhe Nleya, Andrew Mutsvangwa


QUALITY OF BOTTLED DRINKING WATER IN MUSCAT REGION, OMAN - A PRELIMINARY STUDY

Volume 75, Nov 2019
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.11.3

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Abstract: A preliminary study was conducted to explore the possibility of contamination in the bottled drinking waters that are commercially available in Muscat region of Oman. The pH and EC values are approached the stipulated standards in some brands of drinking waters. The highest value of bicarbonate (210 mg/l) is observed from Tanuf compared to other brands. Similarly, the highest calcium concentration of 52 mg/l is noticed in elJabal elAkhdar. Total Hardness of 122.1mg/l is found from Salsabeel which is excess in concentration compared to its maximum limit given by Sultanate of Oman and WHO. A study on the chemical analysis of drinking waters is in progress.

Author(s): R.D. Senthil Kumar

DESIGN OF A HIGH SPEED HYBRID TRANSISTOR LOGIC (HTL) MULTIPLIER USING HTL ADDER

Volume 75, Nov 2019
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.11.7

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Abstract: In cryptographic applications modular multiplications are most widely used. This modular multiplication depends on the addition and shifting operations. While performing iteration operation in modular multiplication, right shift operation with complete word architecture is performed. In the same way arithmetic unit is used in the multiplier to perform the arithmetic operations. While designing arithmetic unit, optimized multipliers are used most widely. Here a high speed hybrid multiplier using hybrid transistor logic adder is presented in this paper. This advanced Montgomery modular multiplication is based on the modular exponentiations to obtain high speed. The Montgomery multiplication uses adequate hardware implementation. The hybrid transistor logic multiplier system not only depends on the modular exponentiations but also depends on the modular multiplication to reduce the delay. Hence compared to Hybrid transistor logic adder system, the hybrid transistor logic multiplier system gives effective results in terms of speed, area and delay.

Author(s): P. Manju, T. Madhavi


THE EFFECTS OF THE LAST WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS ON THE SUICIDE RATE IN EU 28 COUNTRIES

Volume 75, Nov 2019
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.11.5

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Abstract: At the global level, the economic crisis of 2008 caused \\\"a 2% decline in GDP per capita in 2009\\\" (Claessens, 2013), and \\\"in 2013 there were 31.8 million more unemployed than in 2007\\\". (International Labor Organization, 2014) While the evidence suggests \\\"accelerated decline in total mortality and in the mortality for different groups, ages and causes during the recession\\\", this is not true for suicide, which is emphasized during economic recessions. (Granados, 2005). In order to analyze the consequences of the last global economic crisis, which began in the summer of 2008, on suicide mortality in the pre-2004 EU and post-2004 EU 28 countries, between 2007-2015, we extracted data on the mortality rate according to the group of age, gender and cause of death from the WHO and EUROSTAT databases

Author(s): Dumitru Maria Magdalena, Aurel Papari, Andra Seceleanu


A CRITICAL REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF HEALING ENVIRONMENTS ON PATIENT HEALTH

Volume 75, Nov 2019
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.11.2

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Abstract: The increase in the awareness of healthcare design quality has reached a significant level in almost all parts of the world. For that reason, recent studies have gained great importance in healing environment design in order to increase healthcare quality for patients. The relationships between evidence-based design (EBD) and patient-centred care design (PCCD) and their direct effects on patient health and well-being outcomes have been playing an increasingly important role in healthcare design. This paper aims to explore new trends and paradigms in designing healthcare building facilities as well as measuring and integrating the qualities of the buildings, in light of existing evaluation methods for healthcare facilities. This study also focuses on improving healthcare design quality through international accreditation and certification, based on patient-centred care design and evidence-based design values, with the intention of creating a new ‘hospital design guideline for architects’ to be able to improve health outcomes for patients. As a result, this research contributes to the creation of a newly adapted survey-based assessment method as a post-occupancy evaluation to improve the healthcare quality of healthcare building facilities, while examining the role of physical surroundings on the health and well-being of patients. This has been achieved through the collection of selected hospital design instruments for healthcare facility design from across the world and the comparison of international accreditation systems, through the identification of general advantages and disadvantages and the lack of certain aspects concerning health outcomes. On the other hand, the same comparison has been made for certification and licensure used globally in order to highlight differences and similarities in the healthcare design sector. The necessary requirements for healthcare facility design have been explored to improve the needs of patients. The concept of healing healthcare design alongside patient-centred care design and evidence-based design aspects are used to create a humane healthcare quality to meet international healthcare design standards. This paper concludes that there is a need for a ‘new adapted guideline’ with a view to designing hospital buildings within the standards required to be able to become internationally accredited and to improve healthcare design quality, patient health and well-being outcomes. There is a need to rethink healthcare building design and evaluation methods of healing environments in order to improve existing standards for international accreditation in relation to patient experience within these hospital buildings. Keywords: healing spaces, patient-centred care design, evidence-based design, healthcare quality, international accreditation, healthcare design standards, assessment methods

Author(s): Bedia Tekbiyik Tekin, Ozgur Dincyurek


ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF DATE PALM (PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA) PRICE DETERMINANTION IN ALGERIA

Volume 75, Nov 2019
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.11.1

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Abstract: This paper aims to understand the basis of palm date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) price, by using a multivariate econometric analysis of factors involved in how to determinate the dates price in the Algerian market, between 1980 and 2016. Statistical analysis showed that the date palm is evolving in a variant trend, with a visible progression, especially for production, which does not necessarily reflect the increase in exports nor on the prices that are often very high and uncompetitive. The study resulted in a statistically efficient model, but it does not sufficiently respond to the economic behavior of price progression in a disorganized market. The study showed that prices depend not only on market factors but depend also on cultivation practices and conditioning. Therefore, it is important not only to increase production, but also to intervene properly in the good conduct of the date, and to coordinate the commercial operations of different actors of input and output of the market.

Author(s): Aboulkacem Chikh Salah, Maaradj Houari, Noureddine Bouras


BIO-ECOLOGICAL OF THE ACAROFAUNE IN AREA SEMI-ARID (DJELFA- ALGERIA)

Volume 75, Nov 2019
doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.11.8

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Abstract: Abstract\\r\\nA checklist of soil mites sampled in three Daya steppe areas with pistachio plantations in Djelfa, Algeria, Daya Ben Harrath, Daya Ben Toumi and DayaBoxden is presented. Twelve soil samples were collected in 2013 at each Daya during the months fromJanuary to April. The samples were processed using Berlese funnel for mite extraction. All mites collected belong to 4 orders: Trombidiformes, Acarina, Oribatida and Uropodina. The total number of individuals collected from the three Dayas was 470 representing 6 mite species in Daya Ben Harrath 106 individuals were captured belonging to 4 orders, 4 families and 4 species ; 162 individuals were collected in Daya Ben Toumi belonging to 4 orders, 5 families and 5 species; and 202 individuals were collected in Daya Bowden within 3 orders, 4 families and 4 species. The species Rhizoglyphus was the most abundant in the three Dayas, in Daya Ben Harrath with 87 individuals (81.1% of the total number of collected individuals), Daya Ben Toumi with 144 individuals (88.9%) and Bowden with 192 individuals (95.1%). The maximum mite density was recorded inDaya Ben Toumi 600 mites/m2followed by Daya Bowden 733.33 mites/m2and in Daya Ben Harrath, density was lowest(392.6 mites/m2). The Shannon-Weaver diversity index values were low in the three Dayas, 0.63 (Bits), in Daya Ben Harath 0.48 (Bits) in Daya Ben Toumi and 0.24 bits in Daya Bowden.\\r\\nKeywords: Mites, pistachio of Atlas, Daya, Berlese funnel, Djelfa (Algeria).

Author(s): GHEZAL Hassiba, BERRABAH djamal edine, DOUMANDJI-MITICHE Bahia, FEKKOUN Soumeya, DOUMANDJI Salaheddine