If you already have a research project in mind, the research planning phase must be completed with the formulation of a wellstructured research proposal that must be submitted to an ethics committee for approval before your project can start. Generally, a research proposal contains the following elements: Title, abstract, introduction, objectives, methodology, timeline and milestones, ethical considerations, budget, appendices, and references. Whether you are a medical student or a researcher, knowing how to write a research proposal is an important skill to start any research project. This guide will give you the skills to write a successful research proposal.
The primary cause of many fatalities is hypertension (high blood pressure). Many hypertensive patients are not even aware that they have the condition. As a result, hypertension is sometimes referred to as a silent killer. Until the harmful effects of high blood pressure, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, renal abnormalities, and vision problems, are identified, hypertension is typically asymptomatic. Without the use of herbs and dietary control, conventional medication therapy could not be enough to treat hypertension. The growing number of persons with high blood pressure can be effectively treated using alternative medicine. Numerous alternative therapies, such as diet, exercise, stress management, vitamins, and herbs, have been proven to be effective in lowering high blood pressure. There are several medications available to treat this disorder however popular antihypertensive medications typically have a long list of adverse effects. Numerous active ingredients with pharmacological and preventative qualities found in medicinal plants can be used to treat hypertension. This review discusses an overview of important medicinal plants and phytochemicals with hypotensive or antihypertensive effects.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
The inclusion of hydroelectric power is crucial to Nigeria's overall energy mix, playing a significant role in electricity generation. However, the Shiroro hydro plant, one of the main facilities located on the Kaduna River, is currently facing operational obstacles due to deteriorating infrastructure and inadequate maintenance practices. To overcome these challenges and improve efficiency within Nigeria's hydroelectric power sector, a hybrid-optimization approach has been proposed. This study sought to enhance the efficiency of the Shiroro hydro plant by implementing this innovative method. To achieve our objectives and address pertinent research questions, a mixed research method combining primary and secondary data was employed. The analysis included hydropower modeling and hydro-turbine input-output modeling. Three optimizer models, namely the particle swarm optimizer (PSO), Ant colony optimizer (ACO), and Artificial bee colony optimizer (ABCO), were utilized to formulate objective functions and task representations. The study involved comparing the daily output and fitness response of the Shiroro hydro plant through swarm optimizer iterations. The findings revealed a clear correlation between the turbine's power output and the water flow rate and water column height, suggesting that altering these factors could significantly improve the plant's performance. The comparison of the PSO, ACO, and ABCO models demonstrated that PSO and ABCO generated optimal or near-optimal solutions, while ACO produced suboptimal results. Consequently, the study concluded that enhancing the Shiroro hydro plant's output was feasible by increasing the water flow rate and column height. Additionally, the utilization of PSO and ABCO models proved to be an effective means of accurately predicting the turbine's output. As a result, the study recommended the integration of hybrid optimization techniques to monitor and identify any deviations in the Shiroro hydro plant's daily power output. This approach would enable prompt maintenance to be carried out, preventing significant damage to the plant. Ultimately, this research contributes valuable insights into improving the efficiency and performance of Nigeria's Shiroro hydro plant.
Foreign bodies (FBs) in the scalp are a common incident following head trauma, especially in traffic accidents, and are detected in the early post-traumatic period. The persistence of these FBs may cause pain and paresthesia. We report a case of 41 years old man, whose victim it’s been 20 years of physical aggression, in which the victim was hit by a brick occasioning a frontal wound stitched at the time without sufficient exploration. Months later, the patient presented several episodes of a frontal scalp nodular lesion with pus leakage (Fig. 1). The lesions were only treated with local antibacterial agents. Four years before the patient consults at our level, he consulted a dermatologist who performed a removal of the skin lesion. Months later, the lesion reappeared. At our level the clinical examination suspected a bone lesion, so CT was performed. Brain imaging was strongly evoking bone tumors or osteitis (Fig. 2). The patient was operated on under general anesthesia. First, a carcinogenic removal of the scalp lesion was performed; then, when reaching the bone, hard red friable bodies well separated from proportionally healthy bone were found. Those findings raise suspicion of the presence of FBs nested in the bone from the first head trauma. Hence, a carcinologic removal of the affected bone was postponed, and simple curettage was performed (Fig. 3). The post-operative course was without complications. The histological study confirmed per-operative findings: Multiple stony FBs associated with inflammatory reaction especially lymphocytes around vessels and the FBs.
Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection caused more than five million deaths throughout the world and more than five thousand deaths in Libya, a little is known about the mortality rate and the risk factors for death from this serious infectious disease in Libya. Thus, it is aimed in this study to identify the potential risk factors for mortality from SARS-CoV-2 infections among 176 Libyan COVID-19 patients in Zawia city. This research is a retrospective cohort study that was conducted on 176 randomly selected volunteers who had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 during a period of December 2020 to February 2021 in Zawia city, Libya. Following filling the prepared validated questionnaire by COVID-19 patients, the data was analyzed to determine the previously mentioned risk factors. The mean age (SD) of the total 176 participated COVID-19 patients was 45.06 (± 17.7) and the mortality rate among these total involved cases (mild to severe cases) was 10.8%. It is found that the mortality among the severe COVID-19 cases was 41.3% and the mean age (SD) of COVID-19 deaths was 69.1 years (13.8) and 73.7% of them were 60 years old or older. In addition, it is found that 63.2% of the SARS-CoV-2 deaths were females and 78.9% of them had a positive history of chronic diseases. Moreover, it was found that the most common chronic diseases among COVID-19 deaths are diabetes mellitus and hypertension (73.3% and 53.3%, respectively). Collectively, it is concluded that COVID-19 elderly female patients aging 60 years or older with a positive history of chronic disease are more likely at high risk for death from SARS-CoV-2 infection among the participated COVID cases.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
Oxalate is widely distributed in plant foods as potassium, sodium and ammonium oxalates (water-soluble form) and as insoluble calcium oxalates. Oxalate forms strong chelates with dietary calcium, thus rendering the complex unavailable for absorption and assimilation. It precipitates as insoluble salts accumulating in the renal glomeruli and contributes to the development of renal disorders. The seed flours of Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc., Phaseolus lunatus Linn., and Phaseolus vulgaris Linn. were investigated for their total, soluble and insoluble oxalate contents by HPLC. The total oxalate content of M. uniflorum, P. lunatus and P. vulgaris was 1.24, 1.77 and 1.71 mg/ g, respectively. The %age of soluble oxalate were M. uniflorum (19.50), P. lunatus (15.08) and P. vulgaris (15.88). Only soluble oxalate is responsible for oxalate absorption (bioavailability) and its excretion. Overall, the total oxalate content is high in legume flour of M. uniflorum, P. lunatus, and P. vulgaris, but the soluble oxalates are very low. Therefore, all these three legumes don't have the adverse effects of oxalate on minerals bioavailability and risk of urolithiasis.
In the present study the effect of the ethanol extract of Culcasia falcifolia on the neurotransmitter levels were evaluated. Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) (60 mg/kg body weight, i. p) was administered to all the groups of mice to induce convulsions. After observing the convulsion, all groups rats were sacrificed, whole brain was dissected out and separated the forebrain. The brain tissue was homogenized and then centrifuged. The aqueous phase was taken for the assay. The reading was obtained using spectroflurimeter. The result of the present study shows that the ethanol extract of Culcasia falcifolia at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight significantly increased the level of inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA and also showed significant increase in the levels of dopamine, noradrenalin and serotonin when compared to seizure control group (PTZ treated group) and was almost equivalent to control group. The findings of the study showed that the extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight significantly (p<0.001) increased the levels of GABA, dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline. The ethanol extract of Culcasia falcifolia exerted antiepileptic activity by decreasing seizure susceptibility to pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure in mice due to restoration of GABA, serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline concentration levels in mice brain.
The article devote to strategic planning of transport and logistical infrastructure development in territory of Siberia and Far East areas, network of regional terminals and the Multimodal transport logistical centers creation incorporated in regional logistical transport and distributive systems on the basis of formation uniform organizational-economic, information, scientific and technical and normal laws is expedient. It is the first in the literature that the multimodal logistical centers, which functions on the commercial basis, providing the coordinated interaction of all transport types and other participants of the logistical process, considered as basic elements of a International transport corridors logistical infrastructure and strategic points of Russia economy growth. Formation and development Purposes of International transport corridors in Russia territory are integration providing with the Russian transport in the European and world transport systems as the equal in rights partner.
Introduction: Augmented Reality (AR) technology is increasingly recognized for its potential to enhance various aspects of dental practice, including treatment planning, patient education, and training. Despite this potential, the understanding of dental professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding AR technology remains underexplored. The objective of this research is to examine the experience, perceived advantages, and real application of augmented reality (AR) Technologies of dental faculty and students. Methodology: A sample of 132 dental students, some integrated into the workforce as part-time private dentists, and faculty members of a single dental school, completed a self-administered online survey. Knowledge and application of AR technology in dentistry, and Experience with AR practice, were the constructs of the study. An administered questionnaire, partially digital and partially paper and pencil, was divided into two parts: Knowledge Assessment and Practice Assessment. The survey results were analyzed using reference statistics. Results: Knowledge Assessment respondents confirmed understanding Augmented Reality (AR) technology (69.7), and AR technology in dental training/education was recognized (65.9). 57.6% of the participants in the Practice Assessment declared absence of AR in their educational and/or professional practice, but an AR technology practice was wanted (67.4). The self-rated proficiencies that 44.47% of the respondents professed were in the range of self-score 3 in the application of AR (moderate). A small fraction (16.7) declared their AR application self-score was above the higher order. Conclusion: It can be concluded from this work that AR technology in academic and practical dentistry is vastly underutilized, notwithstanding the high realization and appreciation for its application.
Bhaishajya kalpana is an art and science of preparing and dispencing medicine. Guggulu is a Niryasa (oily latex) achieved from small tree called Indian bedellium. Botanical name is commiphora mukul. Guggulu is an amorphous, translucent, solid adhesive, oleo-gum resin is produced by the process of gummosis from its plant. Many other Ayurvedic classics have mentioned various formulations of Guggulu for the treatment of various ailments. Bhashajya ratnawali followed various kalpana use for formuations. Guggulu kalpana is secondary formulations of bhaishajya kalpana. . Guggulu is one among the best binding agents and its used as single or compound drug in the form of pills, Formulations which contains Guggulu as main ingredient, they can be called as Guggulu kalpana. Here in Bhaishajya Ratnawali, Guggulu is used in yoga for both purposes, as a base and as well as medicament also.In bhaishajya Ratnavali Guggulu when modified into different formulations. It can also be used in many diseases along with different combinations of drugs with their anupana, Guggulu kalpana beneficial in treating many diseases. The Guggulu Kalpana is indicated in almost all the strotovikaras and also a number of research works have been proved the wide range of action of Guggulu .
Abstract The main objective of this paper is to examine the nexus between the reforms that have been carried out in Nigeria concerning the power sector, and the implications of the reforms on the transformation of agro-allied industries. The power sector, no doubt, can be said to have the potential that can propel national development considering the overall importance of energy to the survival of the nation in terms of job creation, industrial development and sustenance as well increase in revenue generation and Foreign Direct Investment opportunities, among others. The unfortunate situation, however, is that in spite of a number of policies enunciated by successive governments aimed at improving on the power sector, not much has been achieved. The multiplier effect of this kind of development has been seen in the widespread epileptic power shortages, downward spiral of efforts towards industrial development drive; unemployment, shortage of national revenue accruing to government coffers, bourgeoning and rising poverty levels, to mention but a few. All of these have further contributed to the growing army of problems currently being witnessed in the country at the moment. This study is a theoretical exposition of the existing works of scholars and experts in the broader field of power sector reforms. The paper is exploratory in structure and method of its investigation. The study concludes and recommends that in view of the prevailing socio-economic circumstances in Nigeria, genuine reforms in the energy sector devoid of political rhetorics will go a long way in mitigating some of the challenges of contemporary times in the power sector
Lakes are characterized by dynamic responses to ecological and limnologic disturbances that occur within a constrained timeframe. Some endorheic lakes in the Kenyan Rift valley are presently regarded as environmental hotspots because of complex changes that are revealed through multiple proxies; changing lake levels and surface area, turbidity and sedimentation, and the proliferation of macrophytes, and loss of aquatic biodiversity. Lake Baringo is characterized by widespread catchment degradation accompanied by high levels of turbidity during erratic and decline of the native fishery based on Oreochromis niloticus baringoensis. A careful analysis implicates potential natural factors such as catchment topography and increasing anthropogenic pressure as the main causes of lake ecosystem degradation. This paper recommends several strategies for restoration of Lake Baringo based on an integrated multi-faceted approach that combines catchment rehabilitation, pollution control, and provision of alternative livelihoods such as agriculture to the riparian communities
Pumping fluid is one of the crucial parts of any microfluidic system. Using electric and magnetic fields as a substitute for moving parts can have many advantages. In this study hydrodynamic and heat transfer characteristics of electroosmotic flow under influence of lateral electric and transverse magnetic field, are studied numerically. Results indicate that the dimensionless parameters such as Hartmann number, intensity of the lateral electric field, pressure gradient parameter and aspect ratio have an important role in controlling flow. It can be implied that the enhancement of pressure gradient leads to the decrease of critical Hartmann number, and this dependency can be reduced from 44% to 7% for S=0.5 to S=50 in two pressure gradients of Ω=1 and Ω=20. In addition, the reduction of aspect ratio of microchannel section leads to the increment of critical Hartmann number in a specified lateral electric field. At the end, thermal analysis is being done by consideration of the effects of magnetic and electric fields on the Nusselt number.
Women, who constitute the largest group of farmers and who have conserved and improved ago-biodiversity, often have no property rights to land. They also tend to be bypassed by development schemes related to biodiversity. Women’s universities, home science colleges and other educational institutions catering to women’s needs rarely include biodiversity as a field of study. Women can ensure sustainable development and biodiversity conservation/enhancement. Structural obstacles to the advancement of indigenous women need to be addressed, by facilitating and redefining of gender roles and relations in the family and society. Increased involvement of women in decision making structures can contribute to biodiversity: If women are left out of the planning and implementation of local initiatives, valuable input is lost. As well, there tends to be very unequal participation among women and men in official biodiversity initiatives. Given educational biases, cultural obstacles and gender stereotypes, women often find it difficult to enter into relevant professional fields and gain specific expertise. The challenge sustainable agriculture is the safeguarding of agro-biodiversity by paying greater attention to diverse and integrated agricultural systems, especially those managed by women that provide food and livelihood security
Autophagy is a self-digesting mechanism responsible for removal of damaged organelles, malformed proteins during biosynthesis, and nonfunctional long-lived proteins by lysosome. Autophagy has been divided into three general types depending on the mechanism by which intracellular materials are delivered into lysosome for degradation that is, microautophagy, chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), and macroautophagy. In microautophagy cytoplasm material is sequestered through direct invagination to the lysosomal membrane. Whereas in CMA proteins flagged with pentapeptide motif (KFERQ) were selectively degraded through direct translocation into lysosome. Macroautophagy involves the formation of subcellular double-membrane-bound structures called autophagosomes that contain degradable contents of cytoplasm materials and deliver them into lysosomes for breakdown by lysosomal enzymes. The molecular mechanism of autophagy involves several conserved Atg (autophagy-related) proteins. Systems produce modified complexes Atg8-PE and Atg5-Atg12-Atg16 as autophagy regulators. Autophagy is activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions. For example, food deprivation, hyperthermia, and hypoxia are mediated by factors like insulin/IGF-1, m-TOR signaling, FOXO transcription factors, and chaperones. The perturbance in autophagy may lead to several types of cancers, myopathies, and neuromuscular disorders. Several autophagy inducers and inhibitors like 3-methyladenine (3-MA), bafilomycin A1, LY294002 (LY), and Velcade have been used to treat disease is an intense field of study.
Schizophrenia is treated with antipsychotic drugs and is a chronic neuropsychiatric disorders. The influence of antipsychotics on the cytokine systems may be responsible for their clinical efficacy in schizophrenia. Granulocytopenia and agranulocytosis are severe side effects of antipsychotic therapy. The objective of this study was to estimate incidence of drug-associated agranulocytosis in newly diagnosed schizophrenic patients in and to evaluate the risk factors and outcomes. Seven participants groups were designed. Healthy persons as control. Schizophrenic patients before treatment. Schizophrenic patients after one-month of treatment. Schizophrenic patients after two - month of treatment. Schizophrenic patients after three - month of treatment. Schizophrenic patients after chronic treatments. Schizophrenic patients one month after chronic treatment. This study included screening for the expression and function of circulating leukocyte granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor, screening of patient's biochemistry and haematology picture. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor expression was decreased after antipsychotic treatment for one month and continued to decrease after two months' treatment. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor expression starts to increase after the two-month treatment and continues increasing to controls or newly diagnosed schizophrenics or after chronic treatment. Complete blood counts were not changed compared. Liver function showed a transient increase in serum alkaline phosphatase after one and two month of treatment. All other parameters were not changed. Kidney function showed that urea and creatinine levels were within the normal range during the different treatments. Concerning lipid profile, low density lipoproteins levels were increased after one month, two months of treatment and after chronic administration of the antipsychotic drugs. It is concluded that antipsychotic treatment produces a decrease in granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor expression; the decrease reach the maximum effect after two months, then starts to increase back to normal levels. A transient increase in serum alkaline phosphatase in the first two months' treatment. Urea and creatinine levels and lipid profile were within normal range, except low density lipoproteins levels were increased during the two months treatment and after chronic administration of the antipsychotic drugs.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
Freeze desalination (FD) is a method in which saline water is cooled below its freezing point and freshwater is separated from the brine in the form of ice crystals. FD is relatively insensitive to the salinity of the feed solution, making it suitable for desalination of high concentration brines such as the brine rejected from the seawater desalination plants. The design of the FD system and the thermochemical behavior of the brine upon freezing are critical factors in the energy performance of this method. To date, thermochemical properties of the concentrated seawater during cooling, such as the threshold of formation of ice and salt-hydrates and their corresponding cooling load of formation, are not well known. Likewise, the optimal configuration of the FD system to achieve the maximum energy efficiency has not been investigated. This work provides comprehensive data about the cooling load of freezing of concentrated brine rejected from seawater desalination plants along with the threshold of formation of ice and salt-hydrates backed-up by validation. Furthermore, the optimal configuration of the FD system is identified and the effects of the compressor isentropic efficiency and effectiveness of the system’s heat exchangers on the work consumption of the FD system were investigated.
Although the importance of service quality has been recognised, few studies have addressed service quality in hotels from the perspective of employees. Therefore, this study aims to measure the service quality of four and five-star hotels in Jordan from the employees’ perspective based on the SERVQUAL model. The current study was carried out by measuring the data gathered according to a five-point Likert scale. A quantitative survey method was applied, and therefore the SERVQUAL instrument was used to measure service quality. Data obtained from a sample of 238 respondents drawn from ten four- and five-star hotels in Jordan were analysed with the SPSS software based on descriptive statistics. The study’s findings indicated that service quality of five-star hotels in Jordan was higher than that of four-star hotels.
Vitamin D is a hormone which plays a vital role in immune response regulation, including the prevention of inflammation and autoimmunity. Insufficient vitamin D may increase the risk of infection. Vitamin D deficiency is not the only factor linked to an elevated risk of COVID-19 infection. Recent studies have discovered a link between SARS-COV-2 infection risk and blood type. This study was aimed to examine the association of vitamin D and blood groups with the severity of COVID-19. A retrospective study was conducted on 224 confirmed COVID-19 patients, aged between 18 and 89 years old. Patients were divided into three groups (asymptomatic, moderate, and severe cases), and serum 25(OH)D concentration and blood group were analyzed for all the patients. Data of the severe cases were obtained from Souq Althalath Isolation Center, Tripoli, Libya, while moderate and asymptomatic cases were obtained from Abushusha Polyclinic and Aldahmani COVID Filtration Center, during 22nd February 2021 and 28th April 2021 and serum 25(OH)D concentration and blood group were statistically analyzed for all the patients. The percentages of males and females were found to be 47.3% and 52.7%, respectively. Disease severity was distributed as follows: 12.5% asymptomatic, 44.6 % moderate and 42.9% severe. Most of the severe cases had vitamin D deficiency (88.5%). Among the severely ill patients, 39.6% had blood group A and 09.4% had group O, while 22.9%, and 28.1% had blood group B and AB, respectively. In contrast, among the asymptomatic patients, only 7.1% had group A and 85.7% had group O. Overall, the difference in the distribution pattern of blood group in the three severity categories was highly significant (p < 0.001). The prevalence of Rh positivity among asymptomatic, moderate and severe cases was 78.6%, 76.0%, and 60.4%, respectively. This study concludes that insufficient vitamin D levels might influence the severity of COVID-19. COVID-19 patients with blood group A and those who are Rh-positive could be more vulnerable to developing COVID-19 severity.
Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
The objective of this research paper is to assess the mediating effect of Hygiene and motivator factors of Herzberg’s theory in motivating employees with special reference to retail industry and estimate their level of job satisfaction through them. The research being descriptive in nature is based on Primary as well as Secondary data. Structured and standard Questionnaire based on motivatorshygiene has been used for data collection. The respondents (retail executive) respondents were contacted through online Google form and questionnaires were distributed by the researcher personally . The final sample size was 180. Factor analysis is the main statistical tool used to identify underlying variables, or factors, that explain the pattern of correlations within a set of given variables. Researcher has used Principal component method of extraction. The KMO Test was carried out for finding sampling adequacy and Bartlett's Test of Sphericity was carried along with approx. Chi-Square test to test the hypothesis. It is identified from the analysis that out of the eight factors six factors are hygiene factors. Out of these six hygiene factors 3 are money based- Monetary gains attracts, Pay Satisfaction and Love of Money. The results have showed that hygiene factors dominated over motivators in terms of job satisfaction (retail executives in NCR. ) . Herzberg’s two factor theory is applicable but not all factors influence or impact and few are becoming obsolete.