Research Aim: This study investigates the influence of workload and work environment on employee performance, with work stress serving as the mediator Approach: The study employed a quantitative approach using SEM-PLS analysis. The sample included 75 factory workers selected through census sampling conducted from February to June 2023 at PT PSB, a manufacturing firm in Medan, North Sumatra Findings: Findings reveal that workload and work environment positively impact employee performance, mediated by work stress Theoretical Contribution/Originality: This research contributes to the literature by exploring work stress as a mediator in enhancing the understanding of employee performance within the manufacturing sector Policy Implication: Recommendations include PT PSB and similar companies prioritizing plant workers' stress levels, monitoring workload, and fostering a healthy workplace environment Research Limitation: The scope of the study was limited by the number of respondents and the factors considered in assessing employee productivity

L

This paper aims to explore the supporting and inhibiting factors in the effort to integrate character education in akidah akhlak subjects at MIN 11 Aceh Tenggara. This study uses a qualitative method with a narrative approach and data collection techniques of interview, observation, and documentation; then, the data is analyzed using the methods developed by Miles and Huberman, namely data reduction, data presentation, and data verification. This study shows that the supporting factor for integrating character education in aqidah moral learning at MIN 11 Aceh Tenggara is the availability of learning media in the form of focus and Madrasah residents who work together to supervise all students, both outside and inside the Madrasah environment. The inhibiting factors are the limitations of Madrasah infrastructure in the form of no mosque or prayer room, family support, and social media and games that have an influence on student character.

Educare: journal of primary education

Concrete is a material which is used in construction. Weight of concrete plays a major role in the construction industry. If the weight of the concrete is increased, it will pose more structural problems on the later date of construction. It also increases the cost of construction, without any specific benefit. So if lightweight concrete is used, it not only reduces cost of construction, but also not poses any structural problems unnecessarily. Light weight concrete also aids workers in smooth handling of materials. In this study, vermiculite in the form of exfoliated form is used to replace partially natural sand. By this action dead weight of the structure is reduced. Once the dead weight of structure is reduced, it in turn reduces cost of construction. In this study three mixes were casted with the cement content of 383 kg/m3 in M20 concrete and the water cement ratio of 0.45 is chosen. Vermiculite at 10%, 20% and 30% are choosing to partially replace the natural sand. The Tests conducted on concrete for evaluating mechanical properties include compressive strength and split tensile strength. For evaluating durability properties, tests like acid resistance, sulphate resistance, chlorine penetration and water absorption.

Kiran kumar narasimhan

Whewellite crystals are most commonly found in the kidneys, ureter and urinary bladder, causing urolithiasis. The present in vitro study aimed to observe the possible growth patterns and morphology of whewellite crystals. The study was carried out in U-shaped test tubes. Bow shape, donuts and their aggregates, dumbbell, platy, prismatic, rosette, styloid, X-shape and tetragonal bipyramidal crystals were observed. Energy Dispersive X-ray, Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopies and Scanning Electron Microscopy were used to characterize the crystals. This study will be helpful in determining the promotion, modulation, and inhibition of the crystals, as well as evaluating risk factors and prophylactic management of urinary stones.

Dr. salman ahmed

Tremendous growth has been incorporated in the field of composite materials in the current scenario where the engineering applications are highly demandable. Currently composites are being used to replace conventional metallic materials in a wide range of industries including aerospace, defense, aircraft, and textile which require structural materials with high strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios. Also natural fiber composites are currently replacing synthetic fiber composites of different applications in various engineering industries due to their low cost and eco-friendly in nature. In this work, twisted kenaf, and twisted kevlar (aramid fibers) have combined together to enhance the mechanical properties and also to improve high impact resistance with less contribution of kevlar which is very high in cost categorized next to carbon fibers. Here, the hybrid composites (natural and aramid) are done by using hand layup method, and various mechanical properties have been investigated. Also, the morphological analysis is done to observe the internal structure of the tested composite. It is observed that hybrid composite has high strength with minimum contribution of kevlar fibers.

Boopathy govindarajan

Anthropogenic and climatic factors influence soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties, setting the stage for agriculture’s sustainability. Soil is a primary carbon sink crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, making soil health essential for mitigating climate change. Healthy soil enhances climate resilience by maintaining or increasing carbon content and lowering emissions. The overuse of fertilisers pollutes the environment and inadequate application damages soil fertility and microbial activity. The conversion of forests and pastures to agricultural land has resulted in significant carbon losses from the soil. Additionally, soil sealing, air pollution, and industrial contamination all contribute to climate change. Harmful practices such as heavy tillage, land neglect, monoculture cultivation, and excessive chemical use, driven by the pressure to meet growing food demand, have led to soil compaction, degradation, pollution, and nutrient imbalances. Current mismanaged crop and soil techniques deteriorate soil quality; however, by increasing carbon storage in mineral soils and removing emissions from organic soils, sustainable management can contribute to climate neutrality. Climate change can be exacerbated by the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from unsustainable farming practices and poorly managed soils. The purpose of this study is to investigate the detrimental impacts of anthropogenic (Anthropocene) effects on the environment and soil health from a comprehensive perspective and to formulate potential recommendations. The European Union’s Green Deal, Bioeconomy, and Farm to Fork initiatives aim to sustainably transform agriculture in response to climate challenges. These strategies aim to reduce chemical pesticide use by 50%, fertilizer use by 20%, and nutrient losses by 50% by 2030 to preserve soil fertility. These management practices include efficient fertilizer use to maintain soil health and mitigate climate change effects. Restoring degraded soils and implementing conservation measures can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage capacity. Sustainable soil and crop management, including crop rotation, minimizing post-harvest ploughing, preserving vegetation cover, boosting organic matter, and using fertilizers sensibly, is urgently needed to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and store atmospheric carbon dioxide in soil.

International journal of agricultural and applied sciences (ijaas)

Garcinia cambogia, commonly known as Asam Gelugur, has entrenched itself as a traditional herbal medicine, renowned for its applications in treating obesity and its integration into global nutraceutical formulations. The bioactive compounds within, particularly hydroxy citric acid, mediate various effects. This study aims to assess the in vitro cytotoxicity of Taxol, a cytotoxic drug used as a control, and the aqueous extract from Garcinia cambogia against the Vero cell line - a kidney-like cell. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimetyl-2-2thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The assay relies on mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase's potential to reduce MTT, providing a colorimetric indication of cell viability. The results revealed an IC50 value exceeding 500 µg/mL for the aqueous extract from Garcinia cambogia significantly higher than Taxol's 0.0581 µg/mL. This higher IC50 value implies lower toxicity, positioning the Garcinia cambogia extract as a safe component in nutraceuticals and herbal supplements. The aqueous extract of Garcinia cambogia demonstrates low cytotoxicity, reinforcing its safety profile for use in nutraceuticals, which contributes valuable insights into the safety considerations of incorporating Garcinia cambogia into herbal supplements.

Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences

Multiple choice questions (MCQs) and short essay questions (SEQs) are common methods of the assessment of medical students in courses of pharmacology. Poorly constructed test items (questions) are a widespread problem resulting in failure to assess learning objectives. It has been reported that there are 36.0% to 65.0% flawed test items in medical education assessment tools. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate MCQs by determining the item writing flaws (IWFs) and to evaluate the SEQs by determining the cognitive level of each item. Four pharmacology tests were administered to third-year pharmacy students at Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Omar Al-Mukhtar University, Bayda, Libya. These were evaluated by determining the IWFs and the level of the cognitive domains. Based on Buckwalter’s modification of Bloom’s taxonomy cognitive level, for the SEQs, 30.0% of the questions were attempted to check recall of information, 26.0% were attempted to evaluate understanding and interpretation of data and 43.0% of the questions were attempted to check the application of knowledge for solving a particular problem. For the MCQs, 94.6% of the questions were attempted to evaluate the understanding and interpretation of data. For the IWFs, there were more than 40.0% of flawed questions. The most common writing flaws were the negative stem (47.4%), unfocused item (16.0%), non-homogenous in grammar and contents (10.0%), all the above (10.0%) and clang association (05.0%). In a short essay, the SEQs were of excellent quality because they were equally distributed among the three levels of cognitive (level I, II and III). On the other hand, the most common mistakes IWFs of the MCQs were the negative stem (47.0%) and the idea was not clearly and concisely stated in the stem (16.0%). This study concludes that questions in SEQs are valid to measure the learning objective but MCQs were not in pharmacology courses in Libya.

Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences

Celiac disease (CeD) is a complex disorder characterized by gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms as well as extraintestinal manifestations, sometimes difficult to diagnose. Commonly referred to as a childhood disease, adult CeD is a well-known entity that should be included in the differential diagnosis of chronic diarrhea or malabsorption syndrome. The pathogenesis involves a genetically mediated autoimmune pathway. In individuals with genetic susceptibility, the mucosa of the small intestine is damaged in response to foods containing gluten. The clinical presentation is variable and ranges from typical GI symptoms to extra-intestinal and systemic manifestations. Clinical improvement and restoration of the intestinal mucosa occur simply by eliminating gluten from the diet. We reported a case of CeD in a young man after 6 years of iron deficiency anemia (IDA), without asserting a clear etiology during this time. In our country, the search for CeD in patients with IDA is usually forgotten and we hereby put it in the spotlight.

Karishma

Technology is very important in this day and age. There are so many fields that use technology, one of which is in the field of education. Even though Indonesia is still in a situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, education must remain number one by maximizing technology, especially in the field of communication. In this study discussed the role of technology during the distance learning process, especially for students at the SD / MI level. The formulation of the problems in this study are (1) How is the distance learning process using educational technology media for SD / MI students during the Covid-19 pandemic?; (2) What are the problems that occur in the distance learning process using educational technology media for SD / MI students during the Covid-19 pandemic?; (3) What is the solution to problems in the distance learning process by using educational technology media for SD / MI students during the Covid-19 pandemic? While the method used to answer the formulation of the problem is qualitative research with an analytic description approach, interviews and literature study, the focus of which is the role of technology and educational media for students at the SD / MI level during the Covid-19 pandemic. The results showed that the distance learning process was carried out using Zoom Cloud Meeting media, WhatsApp group and Google Classroom. The problem that occurs during the distance learning process is usually a signal problem that is not good and sometimes students feel bored when doing online learning so they are playing, lying down, and eating snacks. The solution that the teacher takes to overcome this problem is to provide weekend projects on Saturdays and Sundays. Tehnologi merupakan hal yang sangat penting di masa sekarang ini. Banyak sekali bidang yang memanfaatkan teknologi, salah satunya di bidang pendidikan. Meskipun Indonesia masih berada dalam situasi pandemi Covid-19, namun pendidikan harus tetap di nomor satukan dengan memaksimalkan teknologi khususnya bidang komunikasi. Di dalam penelitian ini dibahas mengenai peran teknologi selama proses pembelajaran jarak jauh terutama bagi peserta didik pada tingkat SD/ MI. Rumusan masalah dalam penelitian ini yaitu (1) Bagaimana proses pembelajaran jarak jauh dengan menggunakan media teknologi pendidikan bagi Siswa SD/MI di Masa pandemi Covid-19?; (2) Apa saja permasalah-permasalahan yang terjadi dalam proses pembelajaran jarak jauh dengan menggunakan media teknologi pendidikan bagi Siswa SD/MI di Masa pandemi Covid-19?; (3) Bagaimana solusi permasalahan dalam proses pembelajaran jarak jauh dengan menggunakan media teknologi pendidikan bagi Siswa SD/MI di Masa pandemi Covid-19? Metode Penelitian yang digunakan adalah penelitian Kualitatif dengan pendekatan deskripsi analitik, wawancara dan studi literatur kepustakaan. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan (1) proses pembelajaran jarak jauh dilakukan dengan menggunakan media Zoom Cloud Meeting, Whatsapp grup dan Google Classroom. (2) Permasalahan yang terjadi pada saat proses pembelajaran jarak jauh adalah adanya kendala sinyal yang kurang bagus dan terkadang siswa merasa bosan ketika sedang melakukan pembelajaran daring sehingga mereka sambil bermain, tiduran, dan memakan cemilan. (3) Solusi yang dilakukan oleh guru untuk mengatasi permasalahan tersebut adalah dengan memberi weekend project di hari Sabtu dan Ahad.

Educare: journal of primary education

The aim of this study was to examine university students’ fear of success from the perspective of positive psychology. Two objectives were addressed: first, analyzing the relation between fear of success, optimism, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and search for meaning in life; second, exploring the variance of the fear of success, taking into account the affective dimension of the self (self-esteem) and search for meaning in life. The results confirmed that fear of success was positively related to search for meaning, and negatively to optimism, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. The variance of the fear of success was explained by the self-esteem and search for meaning in life. Implications for school psychologists were discussed.

Elena stănculescu

This work was focused on identification and evaluation of process parameters of modified nanoprecipitation method, for fabrication of lomustine nanoparticles, with the aim of reducing cancer cell viability at low concentration of lomustine. The parameters controlling particle size, mostly in nanosize, were solvent/nonsolvent composition and emulsification speed of homogenizer along with aqueous phase volume. This controlled particle size is below 250 nm. The stabilizer concentration controlled particle size is within 68 nm ± 0.89 to 137 ± 0.94 nm with PDI 0.06 ± 0.008 to 0.25 ± 0.001. But, the stabilizer addition mode showed more uniform size distribution with PDI 0.085 ± 0.004. Entrapment efficiency was maintained well above 47 ± 0.23%. The drug release pattern was monophasic with controlled release over 24 hrs. In the method used, drug content was affected by ratio of polymer to drug to organic solvent, as well as homogenization speed and time. Percentage viable cells of L132 human lung cancer cell line remained, were only 5% at 100 μg/ml lomustine equivalent PLA nanoparticles.

Archana mehrotra

The study aims to explore the possible morphological features of monosodium urate monohydrate crystals. The study was carried out on a glass slide under a microscope to observe the growth patterns. As a result, three types of spherical ring-banded, dumbbell, and composite spherulites were observed. This study gives detailed information about the morphology and aggregation patterns of mono sodium urate monohydrate crystals.

Dr. salman ahmed

Dermatophytes and Candida albicans are widespread with increasing prevalence and pose a grave threat to public health globally. Ocimum gratissimum and Mitracarpus scaber have been used in Southeastern Nigeria for several purposes, including antimicrobial effects, and have exhibited inhibition of growth to fungi. This study aimed to evaluate and ascertain the antifungal potential of these extracts against dermatophytes and Candida albicans. A total of 50 samples of dermatophytes and Candida albicans previously isolated from clinical samples at two different Hospitals, in the Southeast of Nigeria were used. The clinical samples were vaginal discharge, sputum, swab samples from the endocervix, urine, groin, mouth thrush, and palm. These organisms were all identified using standard mycological identification and characterization techniques. The sensitivity of selected fungi to the extracts (ethanolic extract of M. scaber and O. gratissimum oil) and ketoconazole was evaluated using a modified cup-agar diffusion plate method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts was determined by the agar dilution method. Their minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) and killing rates against the isolates were also determined. The organisms remain an important etiological agent in this species, implicated in several kinds of infections. The result showed that the activity of the O. gratissimum oil was comparable with that of the conventional drugs, indicating the potential in this extract. The MIC values for Candida isolates were consistently lower against O. gratisimum compared to ketoconazole. The MFC results indicated that O. gratissimum oil had a greater biocidal effect against most of the test organisms in contrast to ketoconazole. The killing rate study also indicated that the oil has very good activity against the isolates. O. gratissimum oil holds great potential for use in treating a wider spectrum of fungal pathogens.

Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences

In Libya, mothers commonly use natural products for their infants. The purpose of this survey was to evaluate the level of awareness of mothers using natural products for their infants, a validated questionnaire-based survey was distributed for mothers in several hospitals, the selected random group included 152 mothers of infants aged from day one birth to one year old, an analysis of the data revealed that 68% of mothers were using natural products and the most predominant age was between 20 - 30 years, 63% were living in Tripoli and 52% were undergraduate level of education. Further statistical analysis was revealed a significant difference for measuring the degree of awareness of all the natural products combined together (p = 0.001) and a similar degree of significant difference to the degree of awareness of each natural product alone (p = 0.001). A correlation coefficient test by Spearman was preformed to evaluate if there is any association between participants’ demographic data and the question which measures the level of mothers’ awareness. The results showed that mothers have no awareness on how to use these natural products and no correlation between the participants’ demographic data and the way the mothers use these natural products, except between the fennel and the education level (p = 0.033, p < 0.05, respectively). In conclusion, mothers have no awareness on how to use natural products, an appropriate attention by health care providers should be given to nursing mothers for herbal use.

Mediterranean journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences

In the present study, the bacterium Achromobacter xylosoxidans was isolated from tannery effluent sludge sample in Dindugal, Tamil Nadu, India and screened for its bio-control efficacy against selected plant pathogens viz., Alternaria solani, Curvularia lunata and Fusarium oxysporum under in vitro. It was observed that maximum percent inhibition of mycelial growth of C. lunata (95%), followed by A. solani (85%) and F. oxysporum (80%). An attempt was also made for testing its plant growth promoting traits such as production of Indole acetic acid (IAA), phosphate solubilization efficacy, Hydrogen cyanide (HCN), ammonia and catalase production. Significant amount of plant growth promoting traits were noticed. Further studies on mechanism of bio-control against plant pathogens and plant growth promoting activities of Achromobacter xylosoxidans need to be conformed under in-vivo condition.

Dr. saranya devi k

The present study is designed to determine the types of secondary metabolites in three selected seed powders using a fast, reliable, and non-destructive Near Infra Red spectroscopic analytical technique. NIRS analysis of Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc., Phaseolus lunatus Linn., and Phaseolus vulgaris Linn., seed flours were used to qualitatively evaluate secondary metabolites. The fine powder of crude drug was directly applied to FOSS XDS near the infrared Rapid Content Analyzer. The adequately filled powdered sample in a disposable glass silicate vial closed with a plastic lid was centrally placed onto the Foss Rapid Content Analyzer sample presentation glass. The scanning of samples at ambient temperature gives NIR spectra within 30 seconds. The major proposed compounds in M. uniflorum were 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid, kaempferol, linolenic acid, niacin, quercetin, sinapinic acid, syringic acid, and vanillic acid. Whereas coumaric acid, fructose, galactose, L-serine, raffinose, stachyose, sucrose, threonine, and tyrosine were detected in P. lunatus, and the NIR suggested the presence of caffeic acid, ferulic acid, sinapinic acid, phytic acid, leucine, and valine in P. vulgaris. NIRS is an advanced innovative technology extensively used in chemical, food, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries for rapid and reliable standardization. The present study revealed an excellent correlation to conclude that flour samples of all three legume seeds could be added to the food system to achieve nutritional and functional benefits.

Dr. salman ahmed

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.

Mohamad banat

An online travel agent is one of the platforms that has evolved throughout this digital era, including Tiket.com. Unfortunately, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, online travel agents were affected the most. Now it is time for Tiket.com to evaluate its marketing strategies to increase the customers' purchase decisions. This research aims to analyze which strategies among Perceived Trust, E-Service Quality, Online Rating, and Online Review have the biggest influence on customer’s Purchase Decision on Tiket.com. This study is conducted from September to December 2022, using a quantitative method with purposive sampling by distributing an online questionnaire to 50 customers of Tiket.com. The data is analyzed for multiple regression analysis to find the influence of each independent variable on the dependent variable. Results show that E-Service Quality, Online Rating, and Online Review have a positive and significant influence on Purchase Decision while Perceived Trust has a positive but insignificant influence on Purchase Decision. Further, Online Rating is found to have the biggest influence on Purchase Decision. Thus, it is important for Tiket.com to pay attention to its Online Rating and Review, E-service Quality, and Perceived Trust.

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Verbesina encelioides, a plant with a rich history in traditional medicine, is commonly known as golden crownbeard or cowpen daisy. Despite its widespread use, scientific validation of its therapeutic potential, particularly its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, remains limited. Our study is designed to comprehensively evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of methanol extracts from various parts (leaves, stems, flowers, and roots) of V. encelioides in animal models. Acute toxicity, antinociceptive effects (heat plate and tail flick tests), and anti-inflammatory activity (carrageenan-induced inflammation) were tested in Swiss albino mice and Wistar albino rats. The acute toxicity assay showed no adverse effects in mice up to 1000 mg/kg, a highly encouraging result. In analgesic studies, V. encelioides extracts showed dose-dependent increases in reaction times similar to aspirin. Different extracts had different effects on paw edema in anti-inflammatory testing; some at first increased inflammation but eventually showed significant decreases, especially at higher dosages. These results offer a positive perspective on V. encelioides' possible medicinal use. These results provide a positive perspective on Verbesina encelioides' possible therapeutic use. The results imply that extracts from the plant, which are abundant in bioactive substances such as flavonoids, phenolics, and alkaloids, may have applications in treating pain and inflammation. These results highlight the plant's medicinal potential and suggest that more research and development could help address pain and inflammation naturally.

Dr. salman ahmed