Ever-growing era of mobile and personal wireless networks, motivated research in several fields of engineering resulted in low power and low cost consumer products. The voice band processing required in mobile applications demand for architectures, which can easily be integrated in single chip SoC applications. The conventional approach is to have a dedicated IC outside the digital ICs to perform analog to digital conversion. The motivation of single chip radios demand for integration of such ADC modules on digital cellular related ICs. Mixed signal design is very challenging and hence usually it is preferred to have separate ADC chip before the ASIC/FPGA. In this paper we present a digital sigma delta ADC architecture, which can perfectly be integrated in any digital IC with a targeted sampling rate of 20 kS/s with more than 80 dB dynamic range.
Kompetensi pedagogik merupakan kemampuan yang harus dimiliki guru dalam mengelola pembelajaran. Berkaitan dengan pengelolaan Pembelajaran Tematik fakta di sekolah menunjukkan banyak guru belum sepenuhnya mampu mengimplementasikan pembelajaran yang memiliki prinsip mengintegrasikan banyak materi. Untuk itu, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan kemampuan guru: 1) Memahami peserta didik dalam melaksanakan Pembelajaran Tematik di MI Miftahul Hidayah Tegalsari Tahun Pelajaran 2018/2019. 2) Merencanakan pembelajaran dalam melaksanakan Pembelajaran Tematik di MI Miftahul Hidayah Tegalsari Tahun Pelajaran 2018/2019. 3) Melaksanakan pembelajaran pada Pembelajaran Tematik di MI Miftahul Hidayah Tegalsari Tahun Pelajaran 2018/2019. 4) Mengevaluasi hasil belajar dalam melaksanakan Pembelajaran Tematik di MI Miftahul Hidayah Tegalsari Tahun Pelajaran 2018/2019. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa: 1) Kemampuan guru memahami peserta didik sudah sesuai indikator kompetensi pedagogik. 2) Kemampuan guru merencanakan pembelajaran sudah sesuai dengan indikator kompetensi pedagogik. 3) Kemampuan guru dalam melaksanakan pembelajaran ada satu indikator yang perlu diperbaiki. 4) Kemampuan dalam mengevaluasi hasil belajar sudah sesuai dengan indikator kompetensi pedagogik.
Attempts have been made to formulate controlled release drug dosage forms using chitosan as a release controlling polymer. Granules of combination of chitosan, hydroxylpropyl cellulose, lactose, starch and Ibuprofen were prepared by wet granulation method using 1.0% lactic acid solution. The granules were physico-chemically characterized in terms of density, porosity, angle of repose, carr’s index and housner ratio and was found to be free flowing with good compressibility. FTIR spectroscopy was used and confirmed that there is no interaction between the drug and the added polymers. In vitro release of Ibuprofen, in phosphate buffer at pH 7.4, showed a steady and slow increase in the percentage of drug released over 24 hours as the percentage of chitosan was increased in the formulations compared to that from commercial tablets which released over 80.0% of their content in only two hours. The kinetic analysis using different mathematical models of the data revealed that the release kinetics of the drug form these formulations is somewhere between diffusion controlled, Fickian (anomalous) and non-Fickian which refers to a combination of diffusion and erosion controlled release. Thus, the high correlation coefficient of the data of drug release from most granules when zero order kinetics was applied revealed that there is a constant drug release with time for 24 hours.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
Background and Objective: Endophytic bacteria can protect host plants by producing secondary metabolites and also improve host plant growth by various mechanisms. This unique character makes a special role in, using endophytic bacteria in sustainable agriculture. The study aims to isolate endophytic bacteria from Azadirachta indica (neem) leaf and screened for their biocontrol and plant growth-promoting properties. Materials and Methods: Totally 13 endophytic bacteria isolated from neem leaf and it was tested for their in-vitro antifungal activities against Rhizoctonia solani. A total of 3 isolates (N1B, N4B and N5B) were selected on the broad antifungal activity (50%, 56%, 75% mycelial inhibition). Among different solvents used for the extraction of secondary metabolites from endophytic bacteria, only ethyl acetate extract of N5B showed maximum zone of inhibition in well diffusion method against fungal pathogen. Results: The GC-MS analysis of ethyl acetate extracts of N5B exhibited 14 compounds with antifungal activity, such as Dimethoxyglycerol docosyl ether, Pentadecanoic acid, Oleic acid etc. Selected 3 endophytic isolates were identified up to molecular level using 16S rRNA sequencing and it was identified as Bacillus haynesii, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The identified isolates were used for nursery experiments based on their strong in-vitro antifungal and PGP activities such as P, K, and Zn solubilization, N fixation, IAA, HCN and EPS production. Conclusion: The tested bacterial isolates significantly decreased disease severity in rice, infected with R. solani and increased plant biomass when compared with un-inoculated control. Our findings suggested above mentioned 3 bacterial species may be promising candidates as a biocontrol agent to confer resistance to sheath blight disease of rice.
Recently studies showed that globally, more than 1.8 billion adults are overweight and in that around 650 million are obese. India is one among the most widely recognised countries which are identified with way of life today as being overweight. Obesity or overweight leads to heart diseases, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension etc. Objectives: Adulthood is a period where we have to pay at most attention tohealthy nutritional diet. Preventive measures through assuring the nutritional status of adults such as anthropometric, dietary survey, food consumption pattern, nutritional awareness, physical activity and alertness about diseases will assist the community from being overweight and thus the occurrences of metabolic disorders. Methods: zone chosen for the conduct of the study was Tirupati and based on the number of subjects required, their age profile; willingness to participate in the study; their health condition etc,. a private company which was willing was selected. The subjects chosen were in the age group of over 30-40 years. The selection was carried out using the purposive sampling technique. Results: The data indicates that some adults are in the border line of non-communicable diseases such as overweight or obesity, cardio vascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Conclusion: This could be rectified through regular practice of consuming a nutritious and appropriate diet in conjunction with physical exercise routine.
We pose various congruences on the integers of form 6^n+1,n∈Z_+, which may encourage younger number theorists to research number theory and settle new dimensions in this field. We observed that there are only three prime numbers, namely 7,37, and 1297 of form 6^n+1,n∈Z_+, and no one Fermat numbers attains this form. Moreover, these integers end with 7, like Fermat numbers F_n,n≥2. Also, we discussed some congruences with number theoretic functions σ,φ and Möbious function μ.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex and chronic illness requiring continuous medical care. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is commonly associated with obesity, hypertension, and a tendency to develop thrombosis, and an increase risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Diabesity is a term used to indicate the coexistence of obesity and DM. Diabesity increases as obesity is an emerging epidemic in modern societies, the co-incidence with DM is also rising, so a joint plan of anti-obesity and anti-hyperglycemia for the management approaches. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) on body weight and glycemic response in obese Libyan patients with T2D at the National Diabetes Centre in Tripoli, between July 2013 and May 2022. This prospective study included obese adults with T2D who were newly prescribed GLP-1RA therapy for six months with dulaglutide once weekly or liraglutide once daily. The study included 170 diabetic patients who were started on GLP1-RA as add on therapy to their treatment, with a regular follow-up with dietitian and their physicians to adjust their glucose-lowering medications, then comparing the effect of these agents on body weight and the level of glycated hemoglobin before and after 24 weeks of treatment. Most of the patients (n = 99, 58.23%) were in the age period from 54 to 74 years old and 101 of whom were female subjects (59.4%), with a mean duration of DM equal to 8.8 ± 7.3 years. The patients were divided randomly into two groups, the first group included 110 patients who received liraglutide pens showed a significant reduction in HbA1c from 9.6% (± 1.54) to 7.4% (± 1.03) by p < 0.001 and a significant weight loss from 88.3 kg (± 10.68) to 80.8 kg (± 11.83) by p < 0.001. The reported adverse events were in 23 cases of minor hypoglycemia due to gastrointestinal upset. The other group included 60 patients for dulaglutide pens and showed significant decrease in HbA1c = 9.6% (± 1.54) to 7.1% (± 1.2) by p < 0.05 and a significant reduction of bodyweight from 88.3 kg (± 10.68) to 83.8 kg (± 16.3) by p < 0.05. The reported adverse events were mild transient gastrointestinal distress for the initial week of a start and then subside with regular intake. Whereas, 115 patients (67.6%) with HbA1c above 10.0% before starting therapy, no patient with HbA1c above 10.0% after six months of both GLP-RA agents therapy. Thus, the uses of GLP-RA as add-on therapy for obese patients with T2D significantly improved glycaemic control with less hypoglycaemia, accordingly, reduce insulin requirement for blood glucose control and loss in body weight. It can thus be concluded that GLP-1RA therapy is an effective treatment option when used in obese patients with DM.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
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.
There is a close relationship between a marketing strategy and its ability to realise its mission, vision, and business strategy. A case in point is the Nike brand that focuses on creating meaningful stories for its loyal fan base. It achieves this by inducing emotions into the customer base through "emotional branding" to realise its vision of expanding human potential by creating groundbreaking sports innovations. Nike's marketing campaign strategy involves building meaningful stories and tag lines using a traditional narrative of a hero who overcomes every challenge brought forth through its slogan of "Just Do It." The brand also has a distribution strategy of using subsidiaries like Converse, Jordan, and Hurley and channels like retailers, e-commerce, and supermarkets to reach out to millions of its customers (Mahdi, Abbas, Mazar, & George, 2015). To achieve its mission of bringing innovation and inspiration to every athlete globally, the brand has invested in top-notch technologies like hyper-adapt as part of a marketing strategy.
Assessment of convergent validity of latent variables is one of the steps in conducting structural equation modeling via partial least squares (PLS-SEM). In this paper, we illustrate such an assessment using a loadings-driven approach. The analysis employs WarpPLS, a leading PLSSEM software tool.
Plants are an ancient source of medicine due to the presence of bioactive molecules of various compounds in their different parts. Convolvulus dorycnium plant belongs to the family of wind plants (convolvulaceae). The greatest variety of Convolvulus plants are broadly distributed over the world and was found in Western and Central Asia, Mediterranean, Macaronesia, East Africa, and Arabia. The plant C. dorycnium was collected from Tarhuna in Sidi Said area of Libya in May 2013. Plants belonging to Convolvulus genus contain various phytochemicals profiles. The focus of this study is on the phytochemical analysis of convolvulus dorycnium including phytochemical screening, extraction, isolation, and characterization. The phytochemical screening reveals the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins, steroids, carbohydrate, and coumarin in ethyl acetate and methanolic extract. Column chromatography and column chromatography and TLC were used to fractionate the ethyl acetate extract and H-NMR was used to elucidate the isolated compounds. Some compounds were isolated from the aerial parts of the plant; scopoletin, which is a phenolic coumarin (1) (7-hydroxy-6-methoxy coumarin), caffeic acid (2) (3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid), and ferulic acid (3) (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy cinnamic acid) which are phenolic acids. The chemical constituents present in the extract have been reported to possess many biological activities
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
In health care delivery systems, if you are not part of the solution, then you must be part of the problem. Over the last few decades, clinical pharmacy encourages pharmacists and pharmacy support staff to move their focus from product-oriented role towards new direct engagement with patients, to make the most of the benefits that patients obtain from the medicine they take, or the problems they encounter with their medicines use. In the USA, pharmacists’ participation in physicians ward rounds was shown to reduce adverse drug events by 78% and 66% in general medical and intensive care settings [1. 2]. A study covering 1 029 US hospitals indicated that centrally based and patient-specific clinical pharmacy services are associated with reduced mortality rates [3]. The services involved were medicine information, clinical research performed by pharmacists, active pharmacist participation in resuscitation teams and pharmacists undertaking admission medication histories. New pharmacists’ roles in healthcare systems around the globe have moved and developed significantly over the past few years, particularly with expansion of the scope of practice which allows pharmacists to focus on the clinical aspects of direct patient care [4, 5]. Pharmacists are drug therapy experts of health care team. Therefore, pharmacists, today, are the arbiters of effective and safe use of medicines. Medication therapy management is one of the major areas in which physicians more and more rely on pharmacists to benefit their patients.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
The leaves of khat (Catha edulis) are chewed as a social habit for the central stimulant action of their cathinone content. There is growing concern about the health hazards of chronic khat chewing. Many authors have addressed the adverse effects of khat chewing on the cardiovascular and other systems. Based on a limited number of case reports and few prospective controlled studies, associations between khat chewing and the occurrence of myocardial infarction, dilated cardiomyopathy, and vascular diseases such as hypertension and cerebrovascular ischemia have been proposed. This review outlines the current knowledge on the adverse health effects of khat chewing on the cardiovascular system, assesses the strength and the limitations of the studies, and identifies the questions that the future studies should address.
Adherence to pharmacological therapies are keys to effective treatments in diabetic patients. Previous reviews found that most adherence measurement studies on chronic diseases used a self-reported scale. However, there is no consensus on the best scale to measure adherence in diabetic patients. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify the potential self-reported scale that could be considered for measuring medication adherence in diabetic patients and to provide recommendations for researchers or clinicians to determine appropriate adherence self-reported scales in diabetic patients. This review follows general guidelines in the implementation of systematic reviews. After further review, it was found that 33 studies met all inclusion criteria from 4 databases (Wiley, Science Direct, Scopus, and PubMed). The articles were done by the PRISMA, while the keywords were determined by the PICO method. Most research was conducted in Asia (69.7%) and America (18.2%) on patients with type 2 diabetes (81.3%), patients in hospitals (54.5%), suffering for 1–6 months (54.5%), and using a cross-sectional study design (78.8%). HbA1c clinic data (57.6%) were used in most studies as biological markers of adherence. The measurement scales of medication adherence in diabetic patients are MMAS-8 (57,.5%), MMAS-4 (12.1%), BMQ (9%), MCQ (6%), ARMS (3%), ARMS-D (3%), GMAS (3%), LMAS-14 (3%), and MARS-5 (3%). This review provides information on the different self-reported scales most widely used in diabetic medication adherence research. Various aspects need to be considered before choosing the scale of adherence.
This study aims to determine the functional literacy acquisition of Alternative Learning System learners and make a sound basis for strategic planning and pedagogical intervention that will help promote and develop the said program. The descriptive-evaluative method of research was used in the study. The descriptive method was used to identify the respondents' profile based on (a) age, (b) gender, (c) civil status, and (d) employment status. The evaluative method was used to determine the respondents' functional literacy acquisition in (a) communication skills, (b) scientific and critical thinking skills, (c) mathematical and problem solving skills, (d) life and career skills, (e) understanding the self and society, and (f) digital citizenship (formerly digital literacy). Frequency Count and Percentage Technique was used to describe the functional literacy acquisition of the respondents. Meanwhile, a modified survey questionnaire based on the functional literacy, education and mass media survey ("National Profile of Adult Literacy and Numeracy Skills," 2004, p. 91) was used as the primary tool to gather the data. The respondents in this study were the students enrolled in ALS-Sipocot (North and South District), the school year 2019-2020. Due to COVID restrictions, other ALS learners from other municipalities were not covered as part of the study. Findings revealed that ALS learners do not yet manifest the complete acquisition of functional literacy needed to face the globalized world's challenges because their attainment of the required functional literacy skills is generally low. Moreover, the study disclosed that sex, age, civil status, and employment status affect the acquisition of functional literacy skills among ALS learners in Sipocot, Camarines Sur. Based on the results, the researcher developed an extension activity to help the ALS learners improve their functional literacy, particularly in the digital citizenship area, where they got the lowest score.
The exponential growth of biomedical literature presents both an unprecedented opportunity and a significant challenge for medical professionals and students. Conducting a thorough yet efficient literature review is a fundamental skill, essential for evidence-based practice (EBP), research, education, and scholarly writing. However, navigating this vast information landscape effectively remains a common hurdle. This review aims to provide a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to conducting efficient and rigorous literature reviews tailored to the needs of medical professionals and students. It focuses on practical strategies, critical appraisal techniques, synthesis methods, and leveraging technology to optimize the process while maintaining scientific integrity. A narrative review methodology was employed, synthesizing established principles and methods from evidence-based medicine, information science, and academic writing. Key sources include guidelines from major medical libraries, EBP resources, and authoritative texts on research methodology and critical appraisal. The review outlines a structured approach encompassing: defining a focused question using frameworks like Participants; Intervention/Exposure; Comparison; and Outcome (PICO/PECO); developing and executing a systematic search strategy across multiple databases; efficient screening and selection of relevant literature; critical appraisal of study quality and relevance; effective synthesis of findings (narrative, thematic, or tabular); clear and concise writing; and strategies for maintaining currency. Emphasis is placed on leveraging technology (reference managers, databases, and AI tools) cautiously and avoiding common pitfalls, such as scope creep and uncritical acceptance of findings. A life-long experience that the academic writer learns through life, and yet may fall into them easily. An efficient literature review is not merely about speed, but about systematic rigor, critical thinking, and strategic use of resources. By adopting the structured, technology-enhanced, and critically appraised approach outlined, medical professionals and students can navigate the literature effectively, saving valuable time while producing high-quality, evidence-informed outputs for clinical practice, research, and education.
In India, the campaign to legitimise community radio began in mid-1990s, soon after the Supreme Court of India ruled in its judgment of February 1995 that “airwaves are public property. Though the approval for setting up of Community radio stations in India was granted in 2002, it is yet to develop in the valley of Kashmir. Till now, the valley has not established any community radio station, but the first effort to use radio for the development of the community was made in 2009 when Panos South Asia, in collaboration with the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), a rural University in Awantipora (Kashmir) started a community radio program in the Awantipora community. The program named “Pesh Kadam” meaning “Step Forward” started in 2009 and completed 350 episodes in 2018. This paper is aimed to study the reasons for absence of community radio stations in Kashmir. It also documents the efforts made to bring this medium to Kashmir and understand the evolution and challenges of first ever community radio program in Kashmir, study its content, analyse its popularity and efficacy. Both qualitative and quantitative research techniques are deployed in this study.
The pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presents an unprecedented challenge to identify effective drugs in the prevention and treatment process. At present, there is no proven therapy for this disease, although therapeutic approaches continue to be carried out using traditional medicines (herbal) and pharmacological therapy. Information about SARS-CoV-2 virology has rapidly developed and scientists try to provide a number of potential drugs. Remdesivir has strong in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2. Several potential drugs are currently underway in a clinical trial. Chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, and oseltamivir have not been proven to have efficacy, and the benefits of corticosteroids are still diverse. Current clinical evidence does not support the termination of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, coagulation therapy in patients with COVID-19 concomitant with comorbidities.
Medicinal plants and herbal drugs have widely been used in several diseases which contain highly active pharmacological agents. Several previous studies have mounted about the hepatotoxicity of these remedies which ranges from mild enzyme alterations to liver failure in humans and animals. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity profile of the crude methanolic seed extract of Calliandra surinamensis on rat liver functions. An acute toxicity study was carried out using modified Lorke’s method and sub-chronic toxicity was done following the Organisation for Economic Cooperative and Development guidelines with testing chemicals 423 and 407 to assess the effect of the seed extract on liver function alongside histopathology assessment of the liver. The haematological indices revealed no significant change in red blood cells and other haematological parameters. The average organ weight of the tested rats showed no significant differences. The histopathological examinations of the rat liver revealed no observable toxic injury to the tissue after treatment with the seed extract across all concentrations. There were desirable morphological vasoactive changes of dilatation and active congestion in the organ across all the concentrations which were dose-dependent. There was induced activation of the sinusoidal kupffer cells, which signified a boost to the local immune system of the liver. The nucleoli in the hepatocyte nuclei were remarkably conspicuous which implied an increase in the production of ribonucleic acid that is deployed in protein synthesis.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
Plants, the beauty of nature, have been the basis For treating human ailments. The current accepted modern medicine has gradually developed over the years and is undoubtedly the gift of God in the sense of traditional knowledge about different medicinal plants. However, what is needed are rapid screening techniques, structure base design and combinatorial chemistry for drug development under innovations, which will share the profit of products derived from indigenous plants. There is less known information about Ficus exasperata Vahl., and Cleome ciliata Schmach and Thonn. However, the author of this book presents comprehensive information about traditional uses and the biological and phytochemical investigation of Ficus exasperata Vahl. and Cleome ciliata Schmach and Thonn.