Phaseolus vulgaris Linn commonly known as red kidney bean, is enriched in protein, carbohydrates and dietary fibres. Beans have nutritional and health benefits and possess antimicrobial, antihyperglycemic, antioxidant and anticancer activity due to bio-active chemical constituents. The following study was carried out to evaluate the anti-depressant activity of Phaseolus vulgaris fixed oil (PVFO) using a forced swim test and tail suspension test in mice. In this study, animals were assigned into four groups (n=7). Group I: Control normal saline (2 mL/Kg), Group II: PVFO I (2 mL/Kg), Group III: PVFO II (4 mL/Kg) and Group IV: standard amitriptyline (10 mg/Kg). The significant results indicated the possible anti-depressant role of Phaseolus vulgaris fixed oil.
This paper investigated the variation in the multidimensional competencies and professional development needs of kindergarten teachers using a cross-sectional research design. It involved 54 purposively selected kindergarten teachers and collected the data using the self-assessment tool adopted by the Department of Education from the National Research Center for Teacher Quality in the Philippines. These data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. As found, kindergarten teachers have a high level of competencies across dimensions. Also, they have a very high extent of professional development needs in content knowledge and pedagogy and the learning environment and diversity of learners. Moreover, they have a high extent of professional needs in two dimensions. The reported high priorities for training imply more emphasis on providing them professional development activities. Results found no significant difference in the competencies of kindergarten teachers in terms of age, position, civil status, degree, and years of teaching. On the contrary, significant differences revealed in their competencies in content knowledge and pedagogy, learning environment and learners’ diversity, and curriculum and planning between those with masters and without a master’s degree. Lastly, results show no significant difference in their professional development needs. These results have implications for future research and planning for a more responsive and cost-effective professional development initiatives in the locale.
Higher Education has an important role in the task of rebuilding a nation and it pavCes the way for overall development of a nation. The twentieth century has witnessed several revolutions like Green revolution, White revolution, I.T revolution, so on and so forth, taking human civilization to new heights. At the start of 21st century, we gave a lot of importance given to higher education. Every country realized the value of higher education and the benefits that accrue from it. “The social demands for higher education continue to increase. The inabilities of the state to support this growing demand result in new financing arrangements for higher education. The recent reforms in this area could be broadly divided into two categories: the privatization of public institutions and the establishment of private institutions of higher education. Privatization implies the application of market principles in the operation of public institutions, while ownership rests within the public domain. Promotion of the private sector implies the growth and expansion of the non-state sector in higher education, and very often this sector does not rely on state funding for its growth and expansion. Both of these measures have paved the way for market operations in higher education
Urolithiasis is a global health problem with a high recurrence rate. Different in vivo and in vitro models have been successfully used to evaluate the antiurolithiatic potential of medicinal plants. In vitro models study renal stone formation, and in vivo models reveal the pathological effects of urolithiasis. Thus, in vitro models are significantly and effectively used to evaluate prophylactic management, and in vivo models direct urolithiasis treatment. This paper describes the advantages, limitations and applications of both models, especially the role of in vitro studies in the evaluation of prophylactic management.
Saline and sodic (alkali) soils can significantly reduce the value and productivity of affected land. By estimation, slightly more than one-fourth of irrigated farmland in the United States is affected by soil salinity. Ions most commonly associated with soil salinity include the anions chloride (Cl–), sulfate (SO4=), carbonate (HCO3–), and sometimes nitrate (NO3–) and the cations sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca++), magnesium (Mg++), and sometimes potassium (K+). Crops differ in ability to tolerate salt accumulation in soils, but if levels are high enough (more than 16 mS/cm), only tolerant plants will survive. As salts accumulate in soil, the soil solution osmotic pressure increases. Reclamation of sodic soils is different; excess sodium must first be replaced by another cation and then leached. Sodic soils are treated by replacing the sodium with calcium from a soluble source.
In the last decade, we have observed the usage of artificial intelligence algorithms and machine learning models in industry, education, healthcare, entertainment, and several other areas. In this paper, we focus on using machine learning algorithms in the loan approval process of financial institutions. First, we briefly review some prior research papers that dealt with loan approval predictions using machine learning models. Next, we analyze the loan approval prediction dataset we downloaded from Kaggle, which was used in this paper to compare several machine learning classification models. During this analysis, we observed that credit scores and loan terms are the attributes that probably most affect the result. Next, we divided the dataset into a training set (80%) and a test set (20%). We trained 27 various machine learning models in MATLAB. Three models were optimized with Bayesian optimization to find the best hyperparameters with minimum error. We used 5-fold cross-validation for the validations to prevent overfitting during the training. In the following step, we used the test set on trained models to measure the models' accuracy on unseen data. The result showed that the best accuracy both on validation and test data, more than 98%, was reached with neural networks and ensemble classification models.
Background Predisposing factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) comprise endogenous genetic factors and exogenous factors such as positive and negative smoking, air pollution, inhalation of dust, and work-related chemicals. Because only a small percentage of smokers develop COPD, it is thought to arise as an outcome of environmental harm and a host’s response system, which boosts the tendency of the disease to arise. Objective To clarify the effect of smoking on the level of oxidant–antioxidant in patients with COPD. Patients and methods Thirty patients with COPD (20 smokers and 10 nonsmokers) and 40 healthy individuals (18 smokers and 22 nonsmokers) participated in this study. The investigations included measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), vitamin C, and glutathione (GSH) content. Results SOD, CAT, GPx, GSH, GR, and vitamin C were significant lower (P<0.0001) among patients with COPD (smokers and nonsmokers) than in the control group, whereas the MDA levels were elevated (P<0.0001) in patients with COPD (smokers and nonsmokers) when compared with the control group. Moreover, the values of SOD, GSH, and GPx were significantly lower (P<0.001) in smokers with COPD as compared with nonsmokers with COPD. Finally, there was no significant difference in the level of MDA between patients with COPD (smokers and nonsmokers). Conclusion There is a significant reduction in the level of some antioxidants (SOD, GSH, and GPx) in smokers with COPD compared with nonsmokers with COPD, but other antioxidants (CAT, GR, and vitamin C) did not change significantly, whereas the oxidant levels (i.e., MDA) were relatively convergent in patients with COPD (smokers and nonsmokers). This, in turn, points to the modest role of smoking in the causation of oxidant–antioxidant imbalance in this diseas
Human resource practices are strategic in nature. They represent a vital guidance system that coordinates with executive business plan. HR practices form the foundation supporting the way of bank’s human capital will operate effectively. This research has estimated the impact of HR practices among the employees working in private sector banks on their productivity in Coimbatore district of Tamilnadu. In this research, the researcher has taken randomly around 125 banking employees working in private sector banks in Coimbatore district. A structured questionnaire has framed and collected their opinion about the HR practices which were practiced in their banks. Their opinion were subdued into tables by using percentage analysis, mean score analysis, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The results showed that PG qualified employee whose age between 41 to 50 years have more impact of HR practices and their productivity also high
Background:The systematic management of microbial bioburden in Class C healthcare cleanrooms is a critical factor in patient safety. Standard environmental monitoring often overlooks the complex spatial and statistical relationships of contamination. This study applies a rigorous statistical framework to a comprehensive environmental monitoring dataset to accurately map contamination risk.Methods:A cross-sectional analysis was performed on 318 microbial surface samples from 28 distinct operational locations in a Class C facility. Colony Forming Unit (CFU) data were analyzed using non-parametric statisticsdue to non-normal distribution, confirmed by Shapiro-Wilk tests on all locations with sufficient sample size (n=12). The Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn's post-hoc analysis was used for group comparisons. Spearman's correlation was used to assess inter-location relationships.Results:Significant spatial heterogeneity in microbial contamination was confirmed (p<0.0001). Dunn's test identified CP C 11 W as the location with the highest contamination burden (mean CFU=12.17). The most statistically robust contrasts were observed when comparing high-burden sites against the cleanest location, CP C 32 WNme(mean CFU=0.67), which serves as a control benchmark. Multiple high-burden locations, including CP C 11 W and CP C 30 NCu, were found to be significantly more contaminated than this benchmark. No Spearman correlations survived the strict Bonferroni correction; however, the relationship between CP C 11 W and CP C 45 Wif (r=0.882, p<0.05) approached the significance threshold, suggesting a potential pathway requiring further investigation.Conclusions:Microbial contamination within the facility is spatially patterned, not random. The analysis provides a definitive hierarchy of risk, highlighting CP C 11 W as the primary target for enhanced sanitation. While correlational pathways could not be statistically confirmed, near-significant results provide a clear direction for future, more targeted sampling to validate operational links between zones.
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
In childhood, epilepsy is the most common globally widespread neurological problem, usually with serious consequences for this most critical period of development. Dravet and Lennox Gastaut syndromes are two forms of rare and severe treatment resistant epilepsies that occur early in the life. These resistant epilepsies recognised by continuous unrelenting seizures of many types including the occurrence of status epilepticus. In addition, it is associated with the development of behavioural, neurological, cognitive deficits and the sequelae of increased risk of mortality rate. Historically, cannabis was found to possess several medical benefits including its use for epilepsy. In this review, information and data were extracted from 99 references using PubMed and Google Scholar (November, 2021). Data with clinical evidence on cannabidiol regarding its efficacy on Dravet syndrome and Lennox Gastaut syndrome, mechanism of action, safety, pharmacokinetic properties and interactions with anti-epileptic medications were all reviewed and discussed. Highly purified cannabidiol is a cannabis derived compound that is suggested in recent research as an add-on therapy to the existing treatment of both resistant epileptic types; since it is able to reduce the duration, frequency and severity of seizure disorders. It is also characterised with multiple signalling transduction mechanisms, primarily via inhibition of excitatory and potentiation of inhibitory pathways.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
The screening of perfect diuretics for non-clinical utility in Diabetes mellitus is a relatively novel approach which gain inssight into underlying the pathophysiological processes. This study is aims to evaluate the diuretic effect of a crude aqueous & alcoholic extract of M.charantia Linn. using Albino Wistar Rat model. In this study, the comparative observation of Diuretic activity with standard and extracted compound were shown that the estimated 24‐hour urine contains the Na+ - 3.82 g, 3.82 g, 3.92 g and K+ - 1.35 g, 1.39 g, 1.48 g wt. for Vehicle control, Standard drug, and Extracted compound respectively. Which possess the favoring result means from the spot urine were 10.7±7.0 g/24 h and 3.9±2.1 g/24 h, respectively. Coefficients were 0.035, 0.022, 0.046 at (d±2SD = 7.07 g, 4.42 g and 8.92 g) for sodium chloride and 0.068, 0.031, 0.046 at (d±2SD =4.92 g, 2.31 g, and 3.34 g) for potassium chloride. The Na+ and K+ results can be deduced by conversion (1 g NaCl=0.4 g Na+, 1 g KCl≈0.5 g K+). The present study guide formulation of non clinical trials with statistical study to further measuring the claimed efficacy of M. charantia as a natural remedy for diabetes mellitus.
This document will discuss some crucial operational aspect to the National Agricultural Development Company (NADEC) https://nadec.com.sa/ dairy Milk production company such as how well the inventories within the production system are currently managed, detailed illustration of the critical operations involved within NADEC production system presenting a logical operational flow, identify the two points where the organisation’s delivery system may fail to align its operational performance measures, how a lean approach could be utilised in the production system to reduce the failings potentially and the three key findings discussing the extent to which the lean approach may assist the production system with aligning its operational performance measures
Introduction: Mental health disparities are deeply entrenched within the fabric of societal inequalities, shaped by structural factors that perpetuate intergenerational cycles of disadvantage. Addressing these disparities is crucial for promoting social justice and improving public health outcomes. Aim: This paper aims to synthesize high-quality evidence to elucidate the causal relationships between social determinants and mental health outcomes. It prioritizes pervasive social determinants that influence major mental disorders across the life course and outlines preventive strategies to mitigate these effects. Methodology: A comprehensive literature review was conducted, focusing on publications from the Global North from 2014 to 2024, to explore the influence of social determinants on mental health. Keywords such as "social determinants," "mental health outcomes," "preventive strategies," and "vulnerable populations" guided the search across databases like PubMed and Google Scholar. Results: The review highlights significant associations between mental health and social determinants such as socioeconomic status, racial and ethnic marginalization, and exposure to adverse environments. It underscores the heightened vulnerability of marginalized groups, including refugees, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those living in poverty. The paper introduces a preventive framework to guide primary prevention efforts and reviews both primary and secondary strategies to improve mental health equity. Conclusion: Strategic interventions aimed at the root social causes of mental health disparities can substantially enhance public mental health. This paper provides seven strategic recommendations focused on social justice, offering a roadmap for researchers, policymakers, and public health professionals to address these pressing issues.
Breast cancer is the most prevalent invasive form of cancer in females and poses a significant challenge to overcoming the disease burden. The growth in global cancer deaths mandates the discovery of new efficacious natural anti-tumor treatments. In this regard, aquatic species offer a rich supply of possible drugs. Studies have shown that several marine peptides damage cancer cells by a broad range of pathways, including apoptosis, microtubule balance disturbances, and suppression of angiogenesis. Many side effects, including immune response suppression, characterise traditional chemotherapeutic agents. The discovery of novel putative anti-cancer peptides with lesser toxicity is therefore necessary and timely, especially those able to thwart multi-drug resistance (MDR). This review addresses marine anti-cancer peptides for the treatment of breast cancer.
Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) disproportionately affect conflict zones like Yemen, where diagnostic limitations persist. This meta-analysis evaluated the global prognostic utility of the red cell distribution width (RDW) and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as predictors of CVD and aimed to establish region-specific thresholds for low-resource settings. Methods: Following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) and MOOSE (Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines, we analyzed 75 prospective cohort studies (2014–2025) that included 201,604 adults from 142 countries. Random-effects models were used to pool hazard ratios (HRs) and the area under the curve (AUC). Results: NLR > 3.0 (HR, 2.2 [95% CI, 1.8–2.7]) independently predicted an elevated CVD risk (p < 0> 14% was associated with increased CVD risk in unadjusted analyses (HR, 2.3 [95% CI, 1.9–2.8]), this association became non-significant after adjusting for ferritin (HR, 1.02 [95% CI, 0.98–1.07]). This indicates that RDW primarily reflects iron status, emphasizing the need to measure ferritin before attributing high RDW to CVD risk. The combined RDW + NLR showed superior discriminative power (AUC, 0.82 vs. 0.71–0.74 for individual markers). Subgroup analyses revealed higher NLR cutoffs (>3.8) in HIV-endemic African populations (reflecting chronic immune activation). Sensitivity analyses revealed attenuated NLR effects in rural populations (HR, 1.9) and non-significant RDW-CVD associations when adjusting for ferritin (HR, 1.02), highlighting contextual limitations. Conclusions: While NLR stands as an independent CVD predictor, RDW > 14% must be interpreted with concurrent ferritin measurement. This is crucial to avoid misattributing CVD risk in malnutrition-endemic regions, such as Yemen, where an RDW > 15% is common. The RDW primarily reflects iron status and requires iron-status validation, especially in these high-malnutrition areas. However, caution is warranted when generalizing findings to rural settings where the CVD burden is rising fastest, given the underrepresentation of rural populations (only 16% of included studies). We strongly recommend standardized automated hematology analyzers (k > 0.85).
The wet coating of anhydrous borax powders with stearic acid (SA) to reverse their inherent hydrophilic surface properties was investigated. The coating procedure was based on the results from a previous study that revealed that the stearic acid solution (2 wt. % SA) mixed for 60 minute at 750 rpm on the magnetic stirrer was sufficient for the surface modification of anhydrous borax. For the experiments, stearic acid powders were first dissolved in water at 80 °C. The mixture obtained by adding anhydrous borax powders to this solution was vigorously mixed on a magnetic stirrer to initiation and completion the surface modification. Each of these solutions was then filtered using a filter paper to separate the undissolved particles, and the residue on paper was dried at 50 °C for 48 h until constant weighing was obtained. Wettability has been accepted as a key parameter for success in wet coating treatment. This parameter gained via the experimental characterization technique was used for an evaluation of the powder properties. The degree of wettability of anhydrous borax powders was measured and compared both after their surfaces were coated with stearic acid and after they were treated with water for a certain period of time in an aqueous environment. The stearic acid coating made the powder hydrophobic and this property was highly preserved after washing.
The coexistence of Moyamoya syndrome (MMS) and Graves’ disease (GD) is uncommon. Here, we report a case of a 41-year-old Filipino female, who presented with thyrotoxicosis and acute ischemic stroke. Based on her clinical presentation, cerebral computed tomography angiography, and thyroid function tests, she was diagnosed with MMS and GD. Her Burch-Wartofsky point scale score was 30, suggesting an impending thyroid storm. Antithyroid therapy was started with her neurological status deterioration initially, but after controlling the thyroid storm, the patient’s neurological status stabilized. She remained stable till she travelled to her country. We hypothesized that MMS in a patient with GD is mediated through anti-dsDNA antibodies, by altering key biological mechanisms, that is, inflammation, neutrophil extracellular traps, and apoptosis that drive a distinctive and coordinated immune and vascular activation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of MMS associated with GD reported in Qatar.
Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a significant global health concern and is characterized by the degeneration of joint structures, leading to pain, stiffness, and functional limitations It is estimated that 654.1 million individuals are affected by osteoarthritis worldwide, with females, especially those older than 60 years of age, being the population most impacted. However, there remains a gap in understanding the awareness of knee osteoarthritis among specific populations, such as the Palestinian community in the West Bank, thus, highlighting the need for targeted research to address this health disparity. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the West Bank from August to September 2024. Participants were recruited from 11 cities and a validated questionnaire adapted from a previous study was used to collect the data. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, yielding a value of standard alpha = 0.71, which is an acceptable value. The survey collected demographic data, clinical characteristics, knowledge of osteoarthritis risk factors, symptoms, and attitudes towards treatment options. R Statistical Software was used for data analysis, which included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression to explore the relationships between demographic factors and osteoarthritis knowledge, whereby a p-value of ≤ 0.05 was set up as a significance level. Results A total of 725 valid responses were included in our study. Among the participants, 569 were female, predominantly aged 25 or younger (66%, n = 479), and 62% (n = 450) were single. Knowledge assessment revealed that 80% (n = 580) recognized knee osteoarthritis as a chronic disease, while only 51% (n = 369) understood its impact on joint involvement. The majority identified high BMI (87%, n = 632), advancing age (94%, n = 683), and previous knee injury (72%, n = 520) as risk factors, although only 42% (n = 306) acknowledged genetics as one. Most participants were aware of the management strategies, including analgesics (70%, n = 510) and physiotherapy (80%, n = 579). However, 66% (n = 478) scored low for overall knowledge regarding knee osteoarthritis. Conclusion This study emphasizes the critical importance of raising awareness and knowledge about osteoarthritis within the Palestinian community. Despite being widely known as a long-term issue, there are still noticeable gaps in the understanding of the joint impact, potential risks, and effective treatment methods for osteoarthritis. The use of informal sources highlights the importance of specific educational programs by healthcare providers.
Accounting is a fundamental aspect of business operations because it records transactions through which businesses achieve and retain profitability. Recoding transactions is an important aspect of business because the primary goal of businesses is to maximise profitability (Tirole, 2010). Accounting lays the groundwork to manage the income, expenses, assets and cash flow of the firm, all of which are pivotal to the financial health of the business regardless of its size. This report discusses different accounting principles in practice. The first task utilises the double-entry method to record the transactions of the business in ledgers using the double-entry method. This task also includes the formulation of a trial balance using the balance off rule and illustrates to which final account each trial balance entry is attributable. The second task involves the creation of final accounts for different businesses. The legal implications of varying business structures differ, so their financial statements are different. This task also includes a discussion of the properties, purposes, and structures of different financial statements. The third task addresses bank reconciliation. Bank reconciliation resolves any discordance between the records of the business and its bank statement. The gist of the fourth task is the use of control accounts. Control accounts summarise ledger balances to ensure a match between those accounts and the accounts in the ledger of each account.
Augustine University Ilara Epe, Lagos, Nigeria
Jntua, Aicte
Banasthali Vidyapith