Education is power. It constitutes the foundation of all the multidimensional socio-economic development of a country. In the present context, we need manpower or human capital for generating the growth and development in a country. The Government of India has taken several many initiatives for promoting education at all the stages i.e. Primary, Secondary and Higher. But still, we find such issues as a high dropout rate at all the stages of education, rural-urban disparity, gender disparity, interstate variations pose as some of the problems that impedes the development of human resources in our country. Even the work participation rate in India indicates the necessity of proper planning of skill training and employment opportunity. Most interestingly, the existing general and conventional higher educational institutions have not effectively been able to cope with the contemporary challenges and changes with the result that the nature of curriculum which is by and large in place tends to create only degree inflation in our country. So, we need such institutes and institutional arrangement that can cater to the contemporary challenges so as to upgrade the quality of education as well as to provide need based educational programmes that can develop human power in the society. Effective or quality education especially at higher level can play a vital role in bringing around multifaceted human resource development, enabling the learner’s absorption in the job market and selfemployment. This paper will discuss how the accessibility of education can be promoted to all through a convenient mode of education system and how the disparities in education can be minimized, and also focus on the various strategies for strengthening higher education system in the country.
Frequent power outages arising from poor state of electricity infrastructure is hindering Nigeria’s socio-economic growth. Port Harcourt is one of the foremost cities in Nigeria where business and social activities are becoming rapidly more dependent on electricity. Any power outage, even of the shortest duration, in Port Harcourt City has severe socio-economic impacts and there is no likelihood that the phenomenon would abate even in the nearest future. This research investigated the causes of incessant power outages in Port Harcourt City and suggested remedial measures to reverse the trend. The researcher relied on datacollected from primary sources through personal observations, interviews and discussions with residents of the City and from secondary sources such as the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and current scholarly literature relating to this research, over a period of twelve months. The study used a descriptive and the non-parametric simple percentages technique in analysing the data so collected and in drawing conclusions. It was found that inadequate power generating capacity, shortage of gas, weak and dilapidated electrical transmission and distribution network, inadequate power infrastructure facilities, etc. are the chief causes of incessant power outages in the Port Harcourt metropolis. The paper recommends, among others, immediate upgrade of existing power infrastructure facilities, review of government policy on domestic gas supply and stiff statutory legislation on vandalism as measures to stabilise electricity supply in the Port Harcourt city.
The purpose of this study is to explore the belief of teacher educators about the relationship between teaching and research. Keeping in view the role of the teacher educators, a survey was done. The beliefs of teacher educators were explored with the help of an opinionaire. The collected data were analyzed through qualitative method of analysis. It was found that the secondary teacher educators were positive about the need of research with a little dilemma between teaching and research.
In the Indo-Pak subcontinent, the traditional systems of medicine, both Ayurvedic and Unani, are primarily based on herbs and herb-based preparation for therapy. Therefore, the importance of the herbal identification process remains critical in achieving the desired and successful therapeutic effect. To support the manufacturers and practitioners of both systems, many herbs are still collected from wild sources, as herbal farming is not very developed in this part of the world. During a survey program conducted in different areas of Pakistan, significant lacks and gaps were noted to be present in the identification & characterization of herbs, which needs to be addressed and fulfilled as many species look alike apparently or physically but have different biological or pharmacological activity. Based on this objective and approach, Centella asiatica was selected for the pharmacognostic and preliminary phytochemical investigation to establish a better correlation and to provide useful methods in its identification as the use of Centella asiatica is very common in Pakistan and other South Asian countries for CNS disorders therapy. Therefore, this study aimed to develop & report some and rapid identification methods for Centella asiatica. The present study includes physical, physicochemical, preliminary phytochemical and fluorescence analysis. For the first time, in the present study, NIR and FT-IR spectra of Centella asiatica have been reported for identification. The findings of the present study are quite promising and can be helpful for the manufacturers and researchers in the identification and development of Centella asiatica-based new drugs or formulations.
Objective: This study was conducted to investigate traditional beliefs and practices of women regarding care of the mother and the infant during pregnancy, in childbirth, and in the postpartum period. Methods: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted at a public hospital in Istanbul. The data collected consisted of socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics, and responses to questions about some traditional customs regarding pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period. Results: In our research, some non-harmful cultural practices were found, such as the belief that to have a clever and beautiful baby the mother should eat fruit; that to have a healthy and peaceful pregnancy, the mother should not look upon ugly things; the mother should indulge her food cravings; and to have an easy birth, the mother should walk and focus on prayers. On the other hand, we also found beliefs that could be harmful, such as wiping the mouth of a baby with a date before breastfeeding, and practices believed to be protective that could cause harm, such as putting a knife under the baby’s bed, fastening a safety pin to the baby’s clothes, and for the mother and child to remain at home for 40 days. Conclusion: While non-harmful and beneficial practices related to maternal and infant health should be accepted and supported as a part of our cultural richness, practices that could be harmful should be prevented in pregnancy classes or with training upon hospital discharge
Breast cancer commonly metastasizes to the bones, liver, lungs, and brain. However, metastasis to endocrine glands, particularly the adrenal and pituitary glands, is rare. We report the case of a 54-year-old woman with hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast who initially showed a favorable response to standard therapy. Surveillance imaging in late 2022 revealed a left adrenal mass, subsequently confirmed as metastatic breast carcinoma. Following laparoscopic adrenalectomy, she developed primary adrenal insufficiency. By mid-2023, she presented with pituitary metastases, resulting in hypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus, and severe visual impairment. Despite targeted radiosurgery, her disease progressed rapidly, and she died in December 2024. This case illustrates an unusual metastatic pattern involving both the adrenal and pituitary glands and demonstrates the potential for aggressive clinical behavior even in hormone receptor–positive breast cancer. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for atypical metastatic sites to ensure timely diagnosis and optimize palliative care strategies.
Online interviews can be powerful tools in global health research. In this article, we review the literature on the use of and challenges associated with online interviews in health research in Africa and make recommendations for future online qualitative studies. The scoping review methodology was used. We searched on Medline and Embase in March 2022 for qualitative articles that used internet-based interviews as a data collection method. Following full-text reviews, we included nine articles. We found that online interviews were typically conducted via Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook Messaging and E-mail chats. Online interviews were used in Africa because of the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and the need to sample participants across multiple countries or communities. Recruitment for online interviews occurred online, interviews were characterised by inaudible sounds, the inability to use video options and the challenges of including people with low income and education. We recommend that researchers critically evaluate the feasibility of online interviews within a particular African locality before fully implementing this data collection approach. Researchers may also collaborate with community-based organisations to help recruit a more socioeconomically diverse sample because of the potential of excluding participants with limited internet access.
Introduction: The prevalence of oral hygiene behaviors (OHB) is very low among school children in Ethiopia. However, the determinants of student's readiness/intention to perform those behaviors have been remained unstudied. Objective: This study aimed to identify the determinants of oral hygiene behavioral intention (OHBI) among preparatory school students based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Methods and materials: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 393 students. A 98-item self-administered questionnaire was used to evaluate oral hygiene knowledge (OHK), oral hygiene behavior (OHB), and OHBI based on TPB variables [attitude (ATT), subjective norms (SN) and perceived behavioral control (PBC)]. Descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling analysis (SEM) were employed to confirm relationships and associations among study variables. A p-value of less than 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval were used to declare statistical significance. Results: A total of 393 students were participated with a response rate of 97.5%. The mean age of the participants (54% females) was 18 (± 1.3) with an age range of 16 to 24. The TPB model was well fitted to the data and explained 66% of the variance in intention. ATT (β = 0.38; 95% CI, (0.21, 0.64)), SN (β = 0.33; 95% CI, (0.05, 0.83)) and PBC (β = 0.29; 95% CI, (0.13, 0.64)) were significant predictors of OHBI, where ATT was the strongest predictor of OHBI. Conclusion: The TPB model explained a large variance in the intention of students to improve their OHB. All TPB variables were significantly and positively linked to stronger intent, as the theory suggests. Furthermore, these results suggest that the model could provide a framework for oral hygiene promotion interventions in the study area. Indeed, these interventions should focus on changing the attitudes of students towards OHB, creation of positive social pressure, and enabling students to control OHB barriers.
Background: This study was conducted to determine the level of the public knowledge, attitudes and practices related to common eye diseases in the southern Indian population. Methods: A cross sectional population-based survey used a semi structured questionnaire on awareness, knowledge, attitude and practices related to eye diseases. Stratified multistage cluster random sampling method was used with a sample size of 867 adults >16 years based on, estimated awareness of cataract 70%, assuming an expected rate of 85%, design effect of 1.5, margin of error 4% with 95% confidence interval with 25% from urban areas and 75% from rural areas. A pilot study was conducted to validate the questions used in the main study. SPSS (version 19) used for analysis. Results: A total of 782/867 (90.1%) subjects participated in the survey, with females 47.4%. Awareness of major eye diseases for cataract 81.5%, glaucoma 47.8%, refractive error 74.3%, squint 89.0%, diabetic retinopathy 65.0% and age-related macular degeneration 36.7% respectively. 41.8% subjects reported wearing glasses either for distance, near or for both. Of the 777 subjects only 294 people underwent an eye examination by an ophthalmologist in the last two years (37.8%). 57.5% subjects had knowledge of the nearest eye care facility within five kilometers of their residence. Electronic media were the major source of information on eye health. Conclusions: Though the awareness levels of common eye diseases were quite high, the knowledge of cataract (10.4%) was poor. There is a need to increase the level of awareness for eye diseases like glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.
The latest phase of capitalist expansion is called “globalisation”. That no state is an autarky but enjoys comparative advantage over others with certain resources and that free trade among these states would work for mutual benefit is the essence of it. Consequently, it advocates the minimization of the governmental intervention in economic affairs and encourages free play of market forces to foster economic development. The argument that this rationale is also applicable to higher education is increasingly gaining currency. But this paper attempts to problematise such a proposition and in contrary argues that this may prove inimical to national development. Education and especially higher education is considered to be one of the factors that help state to promoting national development. However, apologists of globalisation call for its commercialization and argue for the “withdrawal of the state” from this realm. This has only resulted in mystifying profound class inequalities within and without state. Higher education in India is not immune to this ideology in the guise of good economics. It is being structured in such a fashion since 1991 that it has been primarily coupled with the process of economic liberalization and privatization. International financial institutions like World Bank, IMF, GATT, GATS, etc are its votaries. Education was acknowledged as one of the key sectors to be traded. As a result, higher education as a “social good” is fast shifting to being a commodity in the market.
Anthropogenic and climatic factors influence soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties, setting the stage for agriculture’s sustainability. Soil is a primary carbon sink crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, making soil health essential for mitigating climate change. Healthy soil enhances climate resilience by maintaining or increasing carbon content and lowering emissions. The overuse of fertilisers pollutes the environment and inadequate application damages soil fertility and microbial activity. The conversion of forests and pastures to agricultural land has resulted in significant carbon losses from the soil. Additionally, soil sealing, air pollution, and industrial contamination all contribute to climate change. Harmful practices such as heavy tillage, land neglect, monoculture cultivation, and excessive chemical use, driven by the pressure to meet growing food demand, have led to soil compaction, degradation, pollution, and nutrient imbalances. Current mismanaged crop and soil techniques deteriorate soil quality; however, by increasing carbon storage in mineral soils and removing emissions from organic soils, sustainable management can contribute to climate neutrality. Climate change can be exacerbated by the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from unsustainable farming practices and poorly managed soils. The purpose of this study is to investigate the detrimental impacts of anthropogenic (Anthropocene) effects on the environment and soil health from a comprehensive perspective and to formulate potential recommendations. The European Union’s Green Deal, Bioeconomy, and Farm to Fork initiatives aim to sustainably transform agriculture in response to climate challenges. These strategies aim to reduce chemical pesticide use by 50%, fertilizer use by 20%, and nutrient losses by 50% by 2030 to preserve soil fertility. These management practices include efficient fertilizer use to maintain soil health and mitigate climate change effects. Restoring degraded soils and implementing conservation measures can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage capacity. Sustainable soil and crop management, including crop rotation, minimizing post-harvest ploughing, preserving vegetation cover, boosting organic matter, and using fertilizers sensibly, is urgently needed to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and store atmospheric carbon dioxide in soil.
International journal of agricultural and applied sciences (ijaas)
Plants produce a diverse range of bioactive compounds making them a rich source of different types of medicines. Ornamental plants are cultivated for adornment and to enhance the appearance of houses and also for commercial purposes. However, only very few of these ornamental plant species have found to be used in medicine and only little literature exit on their chemical and biological actions. In the present study, the evaluation of antimicrobial activities and identification of bioactive compounds using TLC and GC-MS of the A. columnaris bark extract were performed. In GC-MS bioactive compounds with medicinal value were identified, such as Benzoic acid, 1H-N-Hydroxynaphth (2,3) imidazole-6,7-dicarboximide, 2-Propenoic acid, 3-(4-methoxyphenyl), 1H-N-Hydroxynaphth (2,3-d) imidazole-6,7-dicarboximi. To prove the nontoxic nature of the plant, its crude bark extract was subjected to toxicity study using human embryonic kidney cell line. It reveal that the plant is minimal toxic to the human kidney cell line so usage of appropriate level will found to be safe and also carrying out some structural modification will help in the extraction of new drugs for pharmaceutical purpose.
Background: This manuscript presents an audit focused on assessing the extent of drug wastage and associated costs linked to the disposal of unused intravenous agents within the operating theatres of a tertiary care hospital. The study aims to carefully look at drug wastage, figure out why it happens, and propose strategies for optimizing resource utilization and cost-efficiency in clinical settings. Materials and Methods: This audit is a prospective observational study carried out in a tertiary care hospital. The amount of drug loaded preoperatively, the amount of drug utilized, the amount of drug unutilized and discarded, the total quantity of drug wasted, and the cost related to the wastage were calculated in percentage. Results: The maximum wastage of loaded drugs was seen with atropine (100%), followed by ephedrine (93.6%), propofol (52.5%), phenylephrine (35.2%), atracurium (28.6%), dexmedetomidine (27.8%), fentanyl (16.8%), vecuronium (16.2%) and morphine (6.4%). The cost analysis revealed that 36.3% of the total loaded drugs were wasted amounting to Rs.46903.54. The cost of wastage of propofol was maximum with Rs.14006 which is 29.8% of total cost wastage followed by atracurium 21%(Rs.9856), dexmedetomidine 18.4%(Rs.8687.5), ephedrine 14.7%(Rs.6919), phenylephrine 10.4%(Rs.4910), fentanyl 3.7%(Rs.1780), atropine 1.9% (Rs.906), vecuronium 1.2% (Rs.563.76), Morphine 0.18% (Rs.85.28). Conclusion: In our audit, the maximum drug wastage was observed with atropine (100%) amounting to Rs.906, and the cost of wastage was maximum with propofol amounting to Rs.14006 which was 29.8% of the total cost of wastage. Our audit underscores the importance of proactive management of drug wastage and disposal costs in healthcare settings, particularly within operating theatres where intravenous agents play a crucial role in patient treatment. By conducting a comprehensive audit and proposing targeted interventions, healthcare institutions can optimize resource utilization, enhance sustainability, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Nine fruit morphological traits were studied in ten stands of Jatropha curcas spread in eight forest divisions of Uttarakhand. Variation was examined at stand level as well as at tree level. Significant differences were found among stands for fruit length, fruit diameter, pericarp weight per fruit, seed: fruit weight ratio, kernel: fruit weight ratio and pericarp: fruit weight ratio traits while all morphological traits showed significant differences among trees within stands. The estimation of the variance components, however, revealed that the fruit traits, especially weight traits viz. fruit weight, total seed weight per fruit and total kernel weight per fruit have negligible contribution from stands and small contribution from trees. Maximum variation was found among fruits within trees (i.e. at fruit level or error). Pericarp weight per fruit and fruit ratio traits (i.e. seed: fruit weight ratio, kernel: fruit weight ratio and pericarp: fruit weight ratio) were affected to small extent by stand per se. The repeatability of all fruit traits at tree level were also low to moderate (0.105 to 0.278)
Reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is used worldwide to test and trace the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2). “Extraction-less” or “direct” real time–reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is a transparent and accessible qualitative method for SARS-CoV-2 detection from nasopharyngeal or oral pharyngeal samples with the potential to generate actionable data more quickly, at a lower cost, and with fewer experimental resources than full RT-qPCR. This study engaged 10 global testing sites, including laboratories currently experiencing testing limitations due to reagent or equipment shortages, in an international interlaboratory ring trial. Participating laboratories were provided a common protocol, common reagents, aliquots of identical pooled clinical samples, and purified nucleic acids and used their existing in-house equipment. We observed 100% concordance across laboratories in the correct identification of all positive and negative samples, with highly similar cycle threshold values. The test also performed well when applied to locally collected patient nasopharyngeal samples, provided the viral transport media did not contain charcoal or guanidine, both of which appeared to potently inhibit the RT-PCR reaction. Our results suggest that direct RT-PCR assay methods can be clearly translated across sites utilizing readily available equipment and expertise and are thus a feasible option for more efficient COVID-19 coronavirus disease testing as demanded by the continuing pandemic.
Children's vaccinations play a significant role in public health efforts, particularly in reducing morbidity and mortality rates among children worldwide. However, challenges such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, misinformation, and perceptions continue to affect the achievement of immunization goals in Tanzania and other developing countries. Based on the need to protect the community from diseases that can be prevented by vaccination, this study aimed to assess vaccination coverage and timeliness among children aged 12-23 months who attended postnatal immunization clinics in the Kongwa district located in the Dodoma region, Tanzania. A quantitative cross-sectional study was employed, involving 200 children who visited vaccination clinics along with their caregivers. Data were obtained through a questionnaire prepared and vaccination cards. This current study revealed that 96.0% were fully vaccinated, with 4.0% partially vaccinated, while no children were found to be totally unvaccinated. Timeliness varied across vaccines assed vaccines: 75.0% of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccinated on time, four doses of Oral Polio Vaccine ranged from 74.0-87.0% of on time vaccination. Three doses of the Pentavalent Vaccine and Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine had on-time vaccination rates ranging from 79.5% to 86.0%. Two doses of the Rotavirus Vaccine reached on-time rates of 84.5% to 86.0%. 60.5% of people received the Measles and Rubella vaccine, with 35.5% experiencing delays and 4.0% remaining unvaccinated. This study revealed that, despite the national efforts to improve vaccination rates for children, issues such as delays and incomplete immunizations persist. Strategies like community engagement, continuous training for healthcare professionals, and improving healthcare accessibility in remote areas should be reinforced to improve vaccination uptake in Tanzania.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
A Novel route one-pot three-component reaction was developed for the synthesis of 2,3-Dihydro-2-phenyl-1- H-Naphtho-[1,2-e] [1,3] Oxazine by using Substituted Aniline, Formalin & β-Naphthol in the presence of Tannic acid (10 Mol %) as catalyst. The reaction is observed by using TLC, after completion of reaction product is characterized by 1H, NMR, 13C NMR, IR and Mass Spectra.
Since 2006, multiple outbreaks of avian influenza (AI) have been reported in Nigeria involving different subtypes. Surveillance and molecular epidemiology have revealed the vital role of live bird markets (LBMs) in the dissemination of AI virus to commercial poultry farms. To better understand the ecology and epidemiology of AI in Nigeria, we performed whole-genome sequencing of nineteen H9N2 viruses recovered, from apparently healthy poultry species, during active surveillance conducted in nine LBMs across Nigeria in 2019. Analyses of the HA gene segment of these viruses showed that the H9N2 strains belong to the G1 lineage, which has zoonotic potential, and are clustered with contemporary H9N2 identified in Africa between 2016 and 2020. We observed two distinct clusters of H9N2 viruses in Nigeria, suggesting different introductions into the country. In view of the zoonotic potential of H9N2 and the co-circulation of multiple subtypes of AI virus in Nigeria, continuous monitoring of the LBMs across the country and molecular characterization of AIVs identified is advocated to mitigate economic losses and public health threats.
ABSTRACT The 2006 International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio World Conference treaty concluded that all countries should migrate from analogue to digital terrestrial television by June 2015, starting with region one countries, comprising Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Republic of Iran (Agona & Otim, 2012). The purpose of this research was to explore the technology adoption model (TAM) to address challenges associated with digital terrestrial television migration, and analyse the readiness of South Africa to migrate. A quantitative research was conducted in order to determine the relationship between dependent and independent variables. Digital television offers many benefits for broadcasters, network operators, spectrum regulators, and consumers. In most countries, the transition was slower than expected, even though most European countries managed to migrate. The digital migration is not an easy transition and analogue switch-off can also be much more difficult. Studies have shown that analogue switch off (ASO) needs to be carefully planned and well budgeted for, and it also needs a good publicity campaign which must involve all relevant stakeholders, such as broadcasters, viewers, manufacturers, network operators, manufacturers and retailers. Even though studies conducted previously identified obstacles of digital migration to include; a) lack of awareness b) lack of information, c) influence of politics and d) influence of corruption.
Bacteria that colonize plant roots and enhance the plant growth are denoted as Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR). The objective of this study is to isolate and identify Oryza sativa indigenous rhizobacteria and test for its, bio-control and various plant growth promoting traits under in-vitro condition. Nine rhizobacterial colonies isolated from healthy rice rhizosphere soil were screened for bio-control activity against rice pathogen Helminthosporium oryzae (rice brown spot) and Rhizoctonia solani (sheath blight) by performing dual culture method. The isolate B9 showed maximum antagonism against R. solani (73.7%) followed by isolate B2 (51.2%), isolate B1 (47.5%) and isolate B5 (42.5%) with different range of mycelial inhibition. Among nine rhizobacterial isolates tested, the growth of pathogenic fungi H. oryzae was only inhibited by the isolate B9 (20.5%). The isolates B1, B2, B5 and B9 exhibited maximum bio-control activities were further screened for different PGP traits, such as Phosphate (P) solubilization, Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) production, Hydrogen Cyanide production (HCN) and extracellular enzyme production under in-vitro condition. The isolate B9 revealed the maximum P solubilization efficiency (99 SE), 45 μg/ml of IAA, HCN, amylase and cellulase production in maximum amount. The isolate B9 exhibited maximum bio-control, and PGP traits were identified by morphological and biochemical characterization and it was identified as Bacillus subtilis. In pot experiment, the rice seeds treated with B. subtilis exhibited significant shoot and root biomass when compared with un-inoculated rice and fungus-infected rice. This study highlighted the beneficial properties of native PGPR’s on growth promotion of rice and it could be formulated as bio-control as well as plant growth promoting agent, to reduce the application of chemical fertilizers in agricultural lands.