In view of the on-going global debate about the economics curriculum and its teaching, this paper explores how the faculty responsible for teaching introductory economics at a South African university understand learning and teaching of their subject. We have adopted a qualitative research approach, phenomenography, to complement what we already know from mainstream literature on undergraduate economics education, predominantly published by academic econ- omists using a quantitative methodology. After a phenomenographic analysis of interview data with lecturers and tutors, six conceptions of teaching introductory economics (Economics 1) emerged: (I) team collaboration to implement the economics curriculum; (II) a thorough knowledge of the content; (III) implementing the curriculum in order for students to pass as- sessment; (IV) helping students learn key economics concepts and representations to facilitate learning; (V) engaging students through their real-life economics context to acquire economic knowledge; and (VI) helping students think like economists. These are discussed first in relation to the implications for student learning and second, in a broader context of higher education discourses and educational development
Adolescents’ scholastic and social life has become increasingly reliant on the internet and mobile technology in recent years. Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is a growing problem in Indian adolescents. However, in many cases, this use has become obsessive, causing them to neglect other elements of their lives. Adolescents account for over 35% of internet users in India. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychosomatic problems related to internet overuse among school going adolescent students. This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 348 students in selected schools of Aspur block in Dungarpur-district, Rajasthan, India in the month of February 2016. Problematic internet use (PIU) was assessed by Young’s twenty question internet addiction test. The Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-42) and self structured questionnaire check list was used to measure psychosomatic problems among adolescents. Approximately 5.17% adolescents showed Problematic internet use (PIU). Adolescents with PIU were associated with age between 14-16 year, males,10th class of study, using internet since more than 3 years, being at home, mobile as a source of internet use, purpose of internet use with online gaming. Compared with normal internet users, there were significant correlation between Problematic Internet Use and Somatic Complaints r=0.3660, p<0.05, Depression r=0.3982, p<0.05. Anxiety r=0.2512, p<0.05 and Stress r=0.2886, p<0.05. Problematic internet use (PIU) is an increasing problem among teenagers and it has been linked to psychosomatic issues. Timely Effective measures are needed to prevent the spread of this problem
Avian leukosis virus is recognized as an important viral pathogen in the poultry industry, resulting in salient severe economic losses due to reduced production, uneven flock growth rates, reduced growth, and immunosuppression which predispose affected birds to other infections. This study examined the seroprevalence of avian leukosis virus (ALV) in local chickens (LC) in 5 different live bird markets (LBMs) in Kaduna Metropolis. A total of 276 sera were tested for ALV p27 antigen using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). An overall seroprevalence of 28.3% (78/276) was recorded in the study. At the market level, the seroprevalence of 35% (21/60), 30% (18/60), 32% (16/50), 28.6% (16/56), and 14% (7/50) were recorded for Sabon Tasha, Central market, Railway station, Kawo and Sokoto Road LBMs respectively. With regards to sex, female LC showed a significantly higher prevalence of 30.5% (46/105) compared to male chickens 26.9% (46/171) with no significant difference (P > 0.05) observed. This study established the presence of antigen to ALV in local chickens sold in LBMs. We recommend surveillance and further studies on the isolation, molecular characterization and pathogenicity of ALV in the study area.
An attempt was made for screening of salt tolerant against sodium chloride (NaCl) salt and growth promotion efficacy of eight different phosphate solubilizing bacterial (PSB) isolates under in vitro conditions. An efficient isolate which exhibited maximum phosphate solubilization, salt tolerant, Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) production and root colonization potential in maximum concentration of NaCl (7%) was identified as Bacillus cereus based on 16S rRNA sequencing. It was recorded that highest phosphate solubilization in 7% NaCl concentration (70% and 374 μg/mL) in agar plate and broth assay respectively. IAA production was observed to be decreased when salt concentration increases, the isolate showed significant amount of IAA in normal culture media without amendment of NaCl (74.94 μg/mL) and at 7% gradual decrease of IAA production was observed (30 μg/mL). Maximum colonization of isolate in the roots of Zea mays was also observed in the study.
Nowadays, the pharmacy profession is moving toward a multidisciplinary approach. Besides the pharmacists’ role beyond dispensing and checking the safety, quality and efficacy of the delivered medications, pharmacists are currently using their clinical knowledge to serve the community through different disciplines including drug counseling, vaccination, screening, and drug therapy management
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
This paper examines India’s diplomatic stance towards Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories, focusing on the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and India’s historical relations with both sides. The issue of Israeli settlements has been an issue and a obstacle to peace in the region. As a prominent global player and staunch supporter of Palestinian rights, India finds itself in the delicate position of balancing its traditional support for the Palestinian cause with its growing strategic ties with Israel.The article delves into the evolving dynamics of India’s foreign policy and the factors influencing its stance on Israeli settlements. Analyses India’s historical suppor t for Palestinian self-determination and its voting record in international forums not supporting Israeli settlements. It also examines India’s growing economic and defence cooperation with Israel, which complicates its position on the issue of settlements.
The number of institutions and enrollment in higher education continue their rapid growth, but the quality of this education remains uncertain. A small number of state subsidized institutions attract a thin top layer of talent from each year’s cohort. High selectivity of admission to these elite institutions provides a screen valued by potential employers. Domestic and foreign demand for the services of these few thousand students has created an inflated reputation of the overall quality of India’s higher education. The number of such graduates remains small relative to the population and the demands of India’s economy for educated manpower. Reliable estimates of value-added by higher education, beyond the screening value of admission to elite institutions, are needed to assess colleges and universities, and to guide educational policy. Graduate education the seed farm of higher education and scholarship continues in an alarming state of disarray with respect to both quality and quantity. Pressed by budgetary constraints, the government appears to have decided on profit-oriented privatization of higher education as the solution. Political and business classes, with significant overlap between the two, see higher education as a source of lucrative private returns on investment. There is little theoretical or empirical evidence that supports the prospects of success of a for-profit model in building quality higher education. Some recent proposals hold promise of radical reform and renovation, including regulatory restructuring. It remains unclear whether the government has the wisdom, determination, financing, and power to push reforms past the resistance from entrenched faculty and from the political and business classes. It’s absolutely true that the future and overall development of any country depends upon the fact that how educated its citizens are. Though, gaining a professional degree is not possible for everyone due to various reasons, but what actually matters is the basic education. That is, one should know how to read and how to write. India has shown significant improvement in education since 1947 until today. However, we believe that there is always some room for improvement in every field. So let us discuss 10 ways that can help us improve our education system. To strengthen the Indian Education System, an educational policy was adopted by the Indian Parliament in 1968. Education was made an important and integral part of the national development efforts. Our Government assumed full responsibility for the proper education of the children and adults. Hence, right to primary education or elementary education is now a fundamental right in India.
Urolithiasis is a common worldwide problem with high recurrence. This review covers Euphorbiaceae twenty (20), Cucurbitaceae eighteen (18), Acanthaceae and Amaranthaceae fifteen (15), Cupressaceae twelve (12), Caryophyllaceae eleven (11), Anacardiaceae ten (10), Amaryllidaceae, Apocynaceae and Asparagaceae nine (09), Ericaceae and Equisetaceae eight (08), Arecaceae and Caesalpiniaceae seven (07), Chenopodiaceae six (06), Aspleniaceae, Capparidaceae and Crassulaceae five (05) plants used globally in different countries. Hopefully, this review will not only be useful for the general public but also attract the scientific world for antiurolithiatic drug discovery.
Furosemide is a widely potent diuretic drug used in the management of edema and hypertension. Various brands of furosemide are available in the Libyan market and should be subjected to different quality control tests to assess their pharmaceutical equivalence. This study aimed to assess and compare the quality and the pharmaceutical equivalence of some generic brands of furosemide 40 mg tablets marketed in Libya. The pharmaceutical quality of four brands of furosemide tablets was investigated using official and unofficial compendia standards including uniformity of weight, friability, thickness, hardness, drug content and dissolution rate. The results obtained showed acceptable external features as well as the thickness, diameter and uniformity of weight for all the furosemide tablets. The tested brands complied with the official specifications of friability, hardness and drug content. In conclusion, all four brands can be considered as bioequivalence and thus can be pharmaceutically substituted in clinical practice.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
Treatment adherence is a critical component of epilepsy management. Antiepileptic drug side effects affect adherence and may result in the discontinuation of medication. This study aimed to investigate the association between antiepileptic drug side effects and medication adherence among Libyan patients with epilepsy while identifying predictors of adherence. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Tripoli University Hospital involving 200 adult epilepsy patients. Adherence was assessed via a self-report tool dichotomized as adherent/ non-adherent if patients stopped medication due to side effects. Side effects were evaluated using the Side Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs questionnaire. Logistic regression analyzed predictors of adherence, including antiepileptic drug use, therapy regimen, and side-effect profiles, with p<0.05 declared association. The overall adherence rate was 87.0%. Higher adherence was observed in older age groups, 95.8% in patients aged 51-60, 89.4% in married patients, and 91.0% in university-educated patients. Patients on monotherapy and those seizure-free in the preceding month demonstrated better adherence (88.4% and 93.0%, respectively). Valproate users had notably low adherence (52.6%) while carbamazepine and phenytoin users showed higher adherence (89.7% and 91.7%, respectively). Cognitive complaints significantly reduced adherence (76.1% vs. 79.6%), as did aggressive behavior (58.3% adherence). Logistic regression identified two independent predictors: patients on old-generation antiepileptic drugs had 2.7 times higher adherence (AOR=2.702, 95% CI: 1.168-6.249; p=0.02) while cognitive side effects reduced adherence by 86.4% (AOR=0.136, 95% CI: 0.031-0.596; p=0.008). Cognitive side effects predict non-adherence, necessitating routine monitoring. Paradoxically, older antiepileptic drugs correlated with better adherence. Integrating patient-reported metrics and addressing cognitive impacts could optimize epilepsy care, highlighting gaps in side-effect management and advocating personalized strategies in clinical settings.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
HIV/AIDS cases in Indonesia continue to increase and have spread to all provinces in Indonesia. Bandung is one of the cities with a high number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Indonesia. As one of the areas with the highest number of reported HIV cases, the Bandung city government seeks prevention and treatment through the role of existing stakeholders. However, stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV & AIDS, now referred to as PLHIV, are still found and are difficult to eliminate. People diagnosed as contaminated with the HIV & AIDS virus often get a negative stigma. This study aims to analyze how to remove the stigma and discrimination of people with HIV/AIDS through the role of civil society. The research results show that stigma against HIV is often directed at certain minority groups and is often associated with morals and religion. Meanwhile, discrimination against people with HIV is manifested in violations of individual rights in the economic, social, and cultural spheres. The issue of stigma and discrimination against PLWHA has not received serious attention. Therefore, the role of civil society is very important because it can open a dialogue with the community regarding HIV/AIDS to dispel myths that tend to discriminate against PLHIV.
The current study explored the anti-emetic activity of six aromatic medicinal plants viz Carissa carandus L.. Cichorium intybus Cinnamomum tamala L.. Lallemantia royleana Benth. Matricaria chamomilla L., and Piper metysticum G. Forst . Anti-emetic activity was assessed using a chick as an anti-emetic model. The ethanol extracts of these plants were administered at 150 mg/kg BW orally. Lallemantia royleana and Piper metysticum showed a significant (P <0.001 ) decrease in retches induced by copper sulphate pentahydrate given orally at 50 mg/kg BW. Domperidone was given at 100 mg/kg as a reference drug.
Background: Although statins are considered safe, they do have side effects with a wide range of hepatic adverse effects. The present study aims to estimate the frequency of liver injury in patients treated with various statins and to describe their clinical characteristics and outcomes. Materials and Methods: We carried out a secondary post hoc analysis of collected data from our previous study entitled “Frequency of Rhabdomyolysis in Patients Treated with Statins in Hamad General Hospital, Qatar.” Results: We identified 10 cases (1.0%) of statin-induced liver injury during the study period. Their mean age was 62±10.09 years, with 6 (60%) males and 4 (40%) females. Of the 10 patients, six patients received rosuvastatin, two patients received atorvastatin, and other two cases received simvastatin. The mean duration between the initiation of statin and the development of liver injury (latency period) was 20.40±6.91 months. Five of our patients were asymptomatic, and liver injury was discovered incidentally during routine testing of the patients during routine follow-up, while four patients developed painless jaundice and one developed muscle pain attributed to rhabdomyolysis. Statins were stopped in all patients. Nine of them were managed on an outpatient basis, while one patient with rhabdomyolysis was admitted. In all patients, other statins were reintroduced after a mean time of 7.4±3 months without recurrence of liver injury. No mortality has been reported. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that statin-induced liver injury is a rare clinical entity that occurs regardless of the dose and type of statin, with rosuvastatin being the most causative drug. Statin-induced liver injury was asymptomatic and was discovered incidentally in 50% of our cases during routine testing, underscoring the importance of routine follow-up of liver function tests in asymptomatic patients.
Climate variability also has the potential to worsen existing vulnerabilities such as Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis. This study examined the effects of poverty diseases and adaptive capacities to climate change on farm income along river Niger in Edo and Kogi States, Nigeria. Questionnaires were collected from 358 respondents using multistage sampling techniques from Edo and Kogi States. Descriptive statistics and different functional forms of ordinary least squares (OLS) were used as analytical tools. The results revealed that increase in farm size and age will lead to 1.27% and 1.83% increase in farmers’ income respectively. The major constraints identified by the respondents were lack of funds and credit challenge (94.40%), distance to health centres (93.90%) and access to freshwater supplies (82.70%). It was concluded that the majority 83.80% of respondents had malaria diseases. The study recommends that to reduce the effect of poverty disease, there is a need for policy makers to engage communities when making decisions relating to their health.
The primary cause of many fatalities is hypertension (high blood pressure). Many hypertensive patients are not even aware that they have the condition. As a result, hypertension is sometimes referred to as a silent killer. Until the harmful effects of high blood pressure, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, renal abnormalities, and vision problems, are identified, hypertension is typically asymptomatic. Without the use of herbs and dietary control, conventional medication therapy could not be enough to treat hypertension. The growing number of persons with high blood pressure can be effectively treated using alternative medicine. Numerous alternative therapies, such as diet, exercise, stress management, vitamins, and herbs, have been proven to be effective in lowering high blood pressure. There are several medications available to treat this disorder however popular antihypertensive medications typically have a long list of adverse effects. Numerous active ingredients with pharmacological and preventative qualities found in medicinal plants can be used to treat hypertension. This review discusses an overview of important medicinal plants and phytochemicals with hypotensive or antihypertensive effects.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of the present study was to develop an HPLC analytical method and to perform in vivo study of Emblica officinalis and Aegle marmelos extracts for antioxidant and antidiabetic activity. Methods: The phytochemical analyses, total phenolic content (TPC), TLC, DPPH assay were performed for freeze-dried Emblica officinalis fruits aqueous extract (EOFAE) and Aegle marmelos leaves ethyl acetate extract (AMLEAE). The active constituents present in both extracts were estimated by using HPLC system having Hibar® Results: Tannins, saponins, carbohydrate, glycosides are found in EOFAE; coumarins and flavonoids are found in AMLEAE and quinones, phenols are present in both extracts. The values of TPC present in standard gallic acid, EOFAE and AMLEAE were found to be 485.7, 315.6, 300.7 mgGAE/g, respectively. R C18 column [250 x4.6 mm, 5 µm] and UV detector (264 nm). A gradient mobile phase (acetonitrile and water with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid) was used at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min. In vivo antioxidant, antidiabetic activity of both extracts was conducted on male albino Wistar rats for 21 d in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (42 rats; n=6). The antidiabetic activity was measured by blood glucose level and biochemical parameters i.e. total cholesterol, triglycerides and total protein. Oxidative stress was measured by antioxidant biomarkers i.e. SOD, GSH, lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances method on the liver of the experimental rat. f Conclusion: The present study showed that the EOFAE and AMLEAE treated group III with (EOAM) low dose of 500 mg/kg body weight has potent antioxidant and antidiabetic activity. values obtained by TLC of EOFAE and AMLEAE were found to be 0.41 and 0.50, respectively. The values of % inhibition shown by EOFAE and AMLEAE in DPPH assay were found to be 97.8%±2 and 95.2%±2, respectively. The values of retention time of EOFAE and AMLEAE by HPLC analysis were found to be 4.59 and 5.28 min, respectively. Histopathological examination of the liver was revealed that low dose EOAM (containing of EOFAE 250+AMLEAE 250 mg/kg body weight) administered once a daily for 21 d showed significant activity (P˂0.001) with biochemical parameters and antioxidant biomarkers. Keywords: Emblica officinalis, Aegle marmelos, Antioxidant, Antidiabetic activity, streptozotocin, HPLC
The utilization of traditional medicine (TM) is prevalent among the general population in Africa; however, its use among individuals with diabetes in the region remains underdocumented. This review aimed to synthesize the available literature to identify the prevalence and predictors of TM use among persons with diabetes in Africa. A systematic search was conducted across multiple databases, including MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and AMED, covering studies published from 2000 to April 2023. Of 1560 records identified, 24 articles met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of TM use varied significantly, ranging from 12.4% to 77.1%, with a median prevalence of 50%. TM was commonly used concurrently with conventional medicine (CM) (35.4–88.4%), with a majority (63.8–91.3%) not disclosing TM use to healthcare providers. Female gender, long diabetes duration, use of oral antiglycaemic medication and family history of diabetes emerged as the most common factors that predicted the use of TM. This review highlights the widespread use of TM among individuals with diabetes in Africa, often in conjunction with CM. The high prevalence of undisclosed TM use emphasizes the urgent need for healthcare providers to actively inquire about TM use during clinical consultations to address potential herb–drug interactions and adverse effects.
Abstract should be times new roman with 9 fount single spacing.The main focused of Watermarking is developing and i Image Recognition is the idea of simulating the visual functions of human brain which uses human eyes as the source of input to recognize and make decisions on the objects it sees. This became possible with the advent of cameras and advanced processing technologies. The idea is to copy the features exactly present in the pattern, that the brain uses to recognize images [6]. The image in the real world are captured and pre-processed in the desired format and stored in large chunks of memories. This is to provide the recognition program to compare the new image taken with the ones that has been pre-processed and stored. The comparison is done at the pixel level of the image which is expressed in a matrix form. The image is compared with the data set stored at pixel level and the decisions are made recognizing the image. This picture recognition method becomes a smarter solution with the availability of more number of data sets. With large number of trail and errors the system will get familiar and intelligent providing best solution for computer and robot vision technologies.
The free senior high school policy is one of the best social and economic intervention policies that openly affect both parents and their wards in senior high school. This realisation is reached on the backdrop of the policy’s role in redeeming parents from their economic and financial burden. This study, therefore, looks at the effect of introducing the free senior high school policy on the economic and social lives of parents and students respectively. A correlational cross-sectional descriptive design was used. Questionnaires were administered to three hundred and thirty-six (336) parents of wards in three senior high schools in the North East and Upper East Regions of Ghana. The study confirms that the introduction of the free senior high school policy relieved the financial burden of parents, especially guardians from rural settlements. Besides, there was a lack of adequate stakeholder consultation, hence saddled with implementation challenges. Delay in disbursement of funds for feeding and learning materials presented yet another problem. It is important that governments find sustainable sources of funding for the educational system and also ensure the double-track system is regularised into a single-track system by expanding academic user facilities and increasing the numerical strength of both teaching and non-teaching staff in various senior high schools.
Libraries play a vital role in providing access to information and fostering lifelong learning in communities. With the rapid advancement of Information Communication Technology (ICT), libraries are embracing digital tools and services to enhance their offerings and extend their reach. In today's interconnected world, the utilization of Information Communication Technology (ICT) resources and services has become imperative for various sectors. This study examines the utilization of ICT-based resources and services by libraries, focusing on key technologies such as digital libraries, online databases, electronic resources, and library management systems. It explores how these technologies enable libraries to expand their collections, improve accessibility, and deliver personalized services to users. The present study is an attempt to examine uses of information communication technology based library resources and services at university of Tamil Nadu. In this paper, the majority of the users' use of ICT based resources and services are study purpose. The majority of the respondents that satisfaction of ICT based resources and services have developed academic skills.
Université Nazi Boni
Central Council For Research In Unani Medicine, Ministry Of Ayush, Government Of India, New Delhi