This study investigated the practice of artificial fruit ripening among fruit vendors of banana, plantain, mango and pawpaw in Rivers State. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. Two objectives, corresponding research questions and null hypotheses guided the study. The population for the study comprised all the accessible 1,810 fruit vendors in Rivers East senatorial district. A sample size of 472 fruit vendors was drawn using multi-stage sampling procedure. A validated self-structured questionnaire titled ‘Practice of Artificial Fruit Ripening’ with inter-scale reliability co- efficient of 0.896 was used as instrument for data collection. The descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while inferential statistics of Z-test and One-Way Analysis of Variance were used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level. It was found that fruit vendors in Rivers State sometimes practiced artificial fruit ripening using chemical and non-chemical methods. It was also discovered that regardless of their level of education and years of experience in the fruit business, the fruit vendors sometimes indulged in unhealthy practice of artificial fruit ripening. More so, the study revealed significant difference in practice among the fruit vendors in Rivers State based on level of education and years of experience. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the current practice of artificial fruit ripening in Rivers State is not in tandem with global best practices and therefore portend danger to the wellbeing of Rivers people and other Nigerians. The study therefore recommended among others that; community health workers should carry-out regular and effective health awareness campaigns concerning the dangers of using chemicals to ripen fruits. The Government of Rivers State through the Ministry of Agriculture should organise training programmes for fruit vendors on faster, safer, and economically feasible methods of fruits ripening and other post-harvest management techniques
A simple, precise, accurate, sensitive, specific and reliable stability indicating RP-HPLC method was developed for the simultaneous estimation of Miconazole (MIC) and Ornidazole (ORN) in pharmaceutical dosage form. The method was developed with mobile phase containing buffer (0.05M potassium dihydrogen ortho phosphate, ph3.5): Methanol in the ratio of 25:75, C18 (250 x 4.6mm, 5µm) as a stationary phase and flow rate was 1 ml/min. Detection was carried out at 236nm in UV-2000 detector. The selected chromatographic conditions were found effectively to separate Miconazole and Ornidazole at 6.58 and 3.26 min respectively. The proposed method has been validated for precision, accuracy, robustness. Thus, the statistical analysis confirms that developed methods were successfully used for analysis of formulation and thereby can be used for routine analysis of drugs in Quality Control laboratories.
Drug discovery started when a man suffered from abdominal pain and accidentally healed by chewing the leaves of the plant. The story of Ethnopharmacology begins with the doctrine of signatures, the shape signatures of herbs to heal resembled parts of the body. Later, shape signatures were modified into colour and taste signatures for healing. The information exchange and understanding about people's use of natural resources to discover therapeutic and toxicological potential is now shaped into a branch of science, "Ethnopharmacology". Simply Ethnopharmacology, by using modern science, enables traditional knowledge to convert into medicine and acts as a powerful and creative drug discovery engine.
India’s economic system has undergone significant changes in recent years reflecting globalization and changes in national policies. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of India’s economic growth, focusing on imports and exports. The study explores the key drivers of economic expansion, including trade liberalization, trade agreements, and technological advancement. It also explores the impact of international trade and geopolitical events on business models. It assesses the role of policy measures such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Make in India initiative, and various free trade agreements in generating economic benefits. The paper also assesses the trade balance and its impact on India’s economic stability and growth. The paper concludes with recommendations for improving the market, including diversifying entrepreneurs, investing in infrastructure, and strengthening the domestic economy. The review provides insights to policymakers, businesses, and academics who want to understand and harness India’s economic potential in the global economy
Right of entry to finance, especially by the poor and susceptible groups, is an essential indispensable for employment, economic development, poverty mitigation and social up-liftment. Here lies the importance of financial inclusion. Financial inclusion or inclusive financing is the deliverance of financial services at affordable costs to sections of disadvantaged and low income segments of the society. The Government of India has taken a number of initiatives so that the banks can serve the poor in a hassle-free manner. With a view to spreading the services to poor and weak groups Andhra Bank plays a vital role in financial inclusion. Keeping this view, the authors have attempted to discuss the role of Andhra Bank towards Financial Inclusion as the main purpose of this paper. It also analyses the performance of the Andhra Bank in terms of its deposits, advances, income, expenditure, profitability etc..
The cross line movement according to the two labor and products is the thing to take care of in the present worldwide economy. Worldwide exchange labor and products has for some time been a standard, for different advantages that gather from it. There have been numerous respective and multilateral arrangements comparable to cross line exchange dealings. The development of administrations area that decidedly influences the everyday daily routine and guidelines of experiencing or personal satisfaction. The World Trade Organization (WTO), of which in excess of 156 nations are individuals, has an understanding according to global administrations exchange. The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) is the WTO's arrangement that administers exchange 12 sorts of administrations, including 'instruction administrations.Each WTO part that proposes to change its 'advanced education administrations' area to outline the 'responsibilities' by specifying certain conditions or restrictions with respect to its strategy on such progression. Contingent upon certain public or provincial targets and the states of interest and supply of advanced education, every part would set down various types of conditions while changing the area to unfamiliar instructive foundations. One of the basic inquiries or issues in such manner would be corresponding to the sort of college to be permitted to set up its grounds or branch or in any case offer training administrations. The inquiry raised here is should WTO individuals from Pro training Services Liberalization permit Foreign Private Universities or Foreign Public Universities?
Several pieces of research have proved that the relational effects and outcomes of service quality have a positive and significant impact on consumer satisfaction, consumer retention, consumer loyalty and consumer advocacy. The present research analysed the impact of seven relational outcome constructs on the consumer satisfaction and found that Consumer education, Physical evidence, Emotional intelligence, Social competence and Product policy, have significant and direct impact on overall consumer satisfaction The other relational outcome constructs, personalized relationship between individual customer and service employee, consumer retention and consumer loyalty have important direct effect on overall consumer satisfaction, and these three outcomes also have a direct effect on consumer advocacy. Hence, it was concluded that service quality, consumer satisfaction and consumer loyalty are positively correlated and have a significant and positive impact on consumer advocacy. The research was conducted on 300 consumers of the insurance industry.
Industrial waste is one of the most essential sources of contamination in the environment. Chromium (Cr) is a toxic heavy metal, a major contaminant in tannery wastes and its accumulation in soil and water is a major environmental concern today. In the present study, an attempt was made and investigated the status of different beneficial microbes particularly plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) from tannery sludge samples collected from tannery effluent treatment plant at Dindugal, Tamil Nadu, India. Experiments were conducted and evaluated their chromium heavy metal tolerance abilities and plant growth promoting activities under in-vitro. Based on molecular analysis, the PGPRs were identified as Achromobacter xylosoxidans (LK391696), Azotobacter vinelandii (LK391702) and. The production of IAA was found to be high by Achromobacter xylosoxidans (46μg/ml) followed by Azospirillum lipoferum (30μg/ml). Phosphate solublization activity was also found to be positive in all these PGPR isolates. Significance of these results revealed that there is a possibility of using these potential PGPRs for bioremediation of chromium contaminated sites and also as good plant growth promoter.
The purpose of the presenting review was to share the medicinal and surgical contribution of Greco-Arabic Muslim scientists in diagnosis, surgery and natural medicines for managing and treating urolithiasis. The contribution of Al-Antaki, Al-Baghdadi, Al-Baitar, Al-Bokhari, Al-Razi, Al-Zahrawi, Ibn Sina, and Ibn Zuhr was highlighted. The data compilation was preliminary, and much more efforts are still needed to restore the missing continuity in the history of medicine.
In these researched analyses of different forging product for controlling the forging waste in forging process. In forging process forging waste are carry with forging operation which identify by parting line of products. Parting which defines the product upper and lower die meshing area. Those extra material are used in forging operation which goes to out side of die that material is called as waste of forging. The foraging waste are not use for further any product manufacturing process for their hardness. There for such waste are to controlled for increasing the product utilization any minimising the production cost. In that paper we concentrate to minimizing waste of forging by amylases of different products.
Vitamin D deficiency is a public health concern affecting many individuals as it is highly prevalent in all parts of the world. Recent studies have reported an association of vitamin D deficiency with cardiometabolic alterations such as dyslipidemia. The study aimed to evaluate vitamin D and lipid profile levels among the Libyan adult population and investigate the correlation of vitamin D deficiency with the alteration of lipid profile levels. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Janzour Hospital among 193 subjects (107 males and 86 females) whose ages ranged between 20 and 50 years over three months from Sept to Dec 2023. Vitamin D, cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein levels were estimated. The total mean vitamin D levels were 8.31±4.74, 23.83±2.78, and 42.67±7.95 ng/dl for deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency, respectively. The findings revealed significant alterations in cholesterol (increase), triglyceride (increase), LDL-cholesterol (increase), and HDL-cholesterol (decrease) among subjects who had vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency as compared to subjects having vitamin D sufficiency. Vitamin D levels were negatively correlated with cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL cholesterol, and they were positively associated with HDL cholesterol. The incidence of dyslipidemia is higher in the vitamin D deficiency group than in the insufficiency and sufficiency groups. It is essential to frequently monitor lipid profiles among vitamin D-deficient individuals to avoid subsequent disorders or damages associated with the alterations of lipid profile patterns.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
Formulation of the least cost rations that provides the nutrient requirements of birds is an important goal in poultry production . The aim of the present study was to create an application in the Excel program for formulation of low-cost poultry diets that provide adequate nutritional requirements using linear programming based on the Solver function of the Excel program and composition of common feed ingredients used in poultry diets (yellow corn, wheat, soybean meal , barley, wheat bran, protein concentrate, limestone, table salt, di-calcium phosphate, vitamins and minerals premix ,and vegetable oil), if their default prices are 500, 450, 750, 350, 250,1750, 250, 100, 500, 4500,and 1500) Iraqi Dinar / kg, respectively. The results showed that the Solver function in - Excel can be used to solve linear programming models such as those used for formulation of least cost poultry rations. This Microsoft Excel application is ready to use and can be used to assist researchers and students in formulating poultry rations that provide the desired nutritional requirements of poultry at the lowest cost. Key words : Application
Prescribing drugs for elderly patients is not an easy task since elderly patients are frequently with comorbid conditions. In Libya, there are no guidelines for the management of medications used in elderly patients and no specialized geriatric health institutions. The aim of this study is to assess the pattern of medication use among hospitalized elderly patients in Sebha Medical Centre and the drug-related problems associated with these patterns. This report is descriptive and retrospective cross-sectional study that is conducted at Sebha Medical Center during 2021. Potential drug-related problems were assessed based on the classification of Hepler and Strand. In this study, out of 195 participants, most of the patients have been given antibiotics (92%). The majority of patients have been prescribed anti-gastric agents, vitamins and anti-thrombotic agents which accounted for 75%, 62% and 55%, respectively. To less extent, anti-hypertensive agents, analgesics and anti-hyperlipidemics were reported by 45%, 43% and 38%, correspondently. Almost all the patients have at least one event of drug-related problem and more than three-quarters of the patients had more than one event of drug-related problems. The highest rate was untreated indications which were reported for 77% then followed by drug use without indication nearly a half of the events 48%. To fewer extent rates were reported: “in improper drug selection”, “drug interaction” and “adverse effects” which were reported for 25%, 23% and 18% of the total events, respectively. Almost all elderly patients have been prescribed antibiotics, analgesics and vitamins. Drug-related problems are predominant prevalent in the clinical practice at the center. This study highlights the importance of activation of clinical pharmacist interventions at hospitals which can contribute to reducing the chance of risk of drug-related problems events among hospitalized elderly patients and ensuring rational drug prescribing in the geriatric clinical settings.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
In Libya, pharmacy education and practice have a similar pattern to medical education and practice. Both sectors of public and private pharmacy education and pharmacy practice still significantly unchanged for more than forty years. It is a traditional pharmacy style of education and practice with a limited change of education and practice. Now, there are more than ten public pharmacy colleges and more than five private colleges established in Libya for a population of seven millions. In addition, there are several intermediate pharmacy institutes which provide a middle degree in pharmacy practice with a very limited knowledge in pharmaceutical sciences and training. Practice of pharmacy in Libya is still a classical mode with only dispensing medicines directly in almost a nonprofessional way and an old fashion way. However, the situation is old and complicated that needs a great deal of attention from different health policymakers and authorities such as Ministry of High Education and Ministry of Health, National Pharmaceutical Union and Libyan Association for Pharmacists.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
OBJECTIVE Study was designed to assess sexual experience, thoughts, and problems of women who have been treated with pelvic radiotherapy for cervical cancer. METHODS Seventeen sexually active patients who received minimum 3-month course of pelvic radiotherapy between March 20, 2014 and June 20, 2014 gave consent to participate in the study. Sexual life before cancer diagnosis and effects of treatment on sexual life were assessed with semi-configured score scale created by research group. RESULTS Main diagnostic finding was post-coital and post-menopausal bleeding, and vaginal stricture, vaginal dryness, and decreased sexual desire in partner or patient were primary sexual problems reported. CONCLUSION Health professionals should be aware of these effects and should encourage patients to express their problems and provide effective, individual counsel to each patient.
Vitamin D deficiency and its effect have attracted a considerable research interest due to its relation to glucose homeostasis, insulin secretion, sensitivity and synthesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate vitamin D levels in patients with type II diabetes mellitus aged between 35 - 65 years and investigating their relations with glycemic control and obesity. The study included 74 Libyan patients with known history of type II diabetes mellitus (33 males and 41 females). Serum glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and vitamin D levels were biochemically estimated in these patients. Further, body mass index (BMI) was calculated for all the diabetic patients (weight in kilogram per height in meter square). The mean level of plasma glucose level was 150.58 ± 63.82 mg/dl (mean ± SD). The mean of HbA1c level was 7.90 ± 8.48% (mean ± SD). The mean level of vitamin D was 22.7 5 ± 14.97 ng/ml. The mean of BMI was 26.55 ± 4.10 Kg per m2. The findings showed that 58.10% of the cases had vitamin D deficiency (Out of which 24.24% were males and 85.36% were females). This study showed statistical significance differences in glucose, HbA1c, vitamin D and BMI between male and female patients. Moreover, elderly ages for both sexes had adverse effects on vitamin D status. Vitamin D levels have negatively been correlated with levels of glucose, HbA1c and BMI. It is concluded that vitamin D deficiency has an adverse effect on glucose homeostasis in patients with type II diabetes mellitus and this can be a contributor risk factor in complications of type II diabetes mellitus development in Libyan patients.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
Adolescence is considered as a crucial stage for emotional development. It is also seen as a time of hyper-emotionality, emotional conflict, and volatile mood states. Given that adolescents lack skills for emotional management, emotional distress during these years can hamper their immediate growth and adversely affect their transition to the next stage of life. Interventions that promote positive emotional development during adolescence are the need of the hour. Keeping this in focus, the present study investigated the Effect of Life Skills Training on Adolescent boys and girls with high Emotional Distress. The study used pre- and post-test experimental design with a control group to examine the stated objectives. 160 adolescent boys and girls (n=80), with a mean age of 16.44 years, were selected for the study using Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Of these, 80 in the experimental group (boys=40, girls=40) were trained in life skills. Descriptive statistics, independent sample ttest and repeated measures of ANOVA were used to analyze obtained results. Major findings of the study indicate that Life Skills training has significant effect in reducing emotional distress and improving emotional health in adolescents. And the significance of it was found to be higher in girls compared to boys.
Alzheimer Disease is a chronic neurological brain disease. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer illness may the prevent the occurrence of memory cellular injury. Neuropsychological tests are commonly used to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. The above technique, has a limited specificity and sensitivity. This article suggests solutions to this issue an early diagnosis model of Alzheimer’s disease based on a hybrid meta-heuristic with a multi-feed-forward neural network. The proposed Alzheimer’s disease detection model includes four major phases: pre-processing, feature extraction, feature selection and classification (disease detection). Initially, the collected raw data is pre-processed using the SPMN12 package of MATLAB. Then, from the pre-processed data, the statistical features (mean, median and standard deviation) and DWT are extracted. Then, from the extracted features, the optimal features are selected using the new Hybrid Sine cosine firefly (HSCAFA). This HSCAFA is a conceptual improvement of standard since cosine optimization and firefly optimization algorithm, respectively. Finally, the disease detection is accomplished via the new regression- based multi-faith neighbors’ network (MFNN). The final detected outcome is acquired from regression-based MFNN. The proposed methodology is performed on the PYTHON platform and the performances are evaluated by the matrices such as precision, recall, and accuracy.
Introduction: Mental illness is a global issue that affects various population groups, including university students. Gaining insights into students' perspectives on mental illness plays a vital role in fostering mental health awareness and combating stigma in educational environments Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate Vietnamese undergraduate students’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of mental illness by focusing on the dimensions: (i) the level of knowledge students possess about the causes and manifestations of mental illness, and (ii) their attitudes towards individuals experiencing mental health problems. Methodology: Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, this study involved 350 undergraduate students from five universities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Data collection was conducted between June and July 2024 and utilized the Perception Towards Persons with Mental Illness (PWMI) Scale adapted from previous studies. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science software, version 25 (IBM SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). Results: The results indicated that approximately 80.6% knew about mental illness, and 70.5% perceived mental illness as a common or quite common phenomenon in Vietnam. Regarding the etiology of mental illness, a significant majority identified "bad things happening to you" as a cause (73.3%), followed by substance abuse (51.4%) and brain disease (50.0%). The findings also revealed that, despite some positive perceptions and attitudes, many responses clustered around the neutral option, particularly for controversial or personal items. Conclusions: The findings of this study underscore the need for targeted educational interventions to foster more informed and compassionate attitudes towards individuals with mental illness among undergraduate students.
Cancer is one of the most severe medical conditions in the world, causing millions of deaths each year. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are critical treatment approaches, but both have numerous adverse health effects. Furthermore, the resistance of cancerous cells to anticancer medication leads to treatment failure. The rising burden of cancer requires novel, efficacious treatment modalities. Natural remedies offer feasible alternative options against malignancy in contrast to available synthetic medication. Selective killing of cancer cells is privileged mainstream in cancer treatment, and targeted therapy represents the new tool with the potential to pursue this aim. The discovery of innovative therapies targeting essential components of DNA damage signalling and repair pathways, such as ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related Checkpoint kinase 1 (ATR-CHK1), has offered a possibility of significant therapeutic improvement in oncology. The activation and inhibition of this pathway account for chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic activity, respectively. Targeting this pathway can also aid in overcoming the resistance of conventional chemo- or radiotherapy. This review enlightens the anticancer role of natural products by ATR-CHK1 activation and inhibition. Additionally, these compounds have been shown to have chemotherapeutic synergistic potential when used in combination with other anticancer drugs. Ideally, this review will trigger interest in natural products targeting ATR-CHK1 and their potential efficacy and safety as cancer-lessening agents.