Recent Articles

Standardization is used to describe all measures under taken during the manufacturing process and quality control of drug assuring its reproducible quality. Most of the traditional medicines are effective but still they lack in their standard parameters. Therefore, we need to develop standard techniques to standardize and validate herbal formulations. The drug Habb-e-Falij is therapeutically useful in the treatment of Falij or Laqwa (Paralysis and Facial Paisy) and as a Nervine stimulant. The drug Habb-e-Falij was prepared in three different batches as per the guidelines of National Formulary of Unani Medicine (Part-I), Present study is aimed to evaluate the pharmacopoeial standards using physico-chemical parameters; HPTLC fingerprints, quality control and assurance parameters, using WHO guideline to ascertain the quality of drug. The physico-chemical data showed that the drug contain moisture(1.42%), total ash (75.0%), acid in-soluble (68.02%), alcohol and water soluble extractive matter (9.52%) and (11.47%), pH(1% solution) (5.30),pH(10% solution)(5.78) and the TLC / HPTLC finger prints showed various spots at 254nm, 366nm and visible light (V-S reagent). The quality control study revealed the absence of microbial load, aflatoxins, heavy metals and pesticide residues, The evaluated standards will be very much useful for laying the phamacopoeial standards of Habb-e-Falij and also in providing the quality medicine to needful human beings.

Universities in the modern world are expected to seek and cultivate new knowledge, provide the right kind of leadership and strive to promote equality and social justice. The general objective of the analysis is to investigate the satisfaction level of undergraduate level students enrolled in regular program of University of Gondar and there by understand Gondar University’s level of service quality perceived by the students. A cross-sectional study design was conducted on students of the university selected using stratified random sampling technique. The analysis was anchored on the model developed by Parasuraman et al. (1988) known as SERVQUAL. Results revealed that the satisfaction level of students in the overall service of the university is 65.4%. Additionally there is significant variation in students’ satisfaction across sex regarding student-instructor interaction, administrative student support service and facility supervision whereas no significant variation was seen regarding satisfaction due to undergraduate and post-graduate programs. Therefore it could be possible to conclude that majority of the students are satisfied with the service that the university offers. However it was also found that the number of the dissatisfied group was not insignificant and therefore more effort should be made to make the satisfaction level of the students much better than the current level.

This paper provides a critical review of the article published under the title of “The relationship between transformational leadership and job satisfaction”. The reviewed article intended to determine the relationship between transformational leadership of government secondary school principals and teachers’ job satisfaction. Though not mentioned in the reviewed article, a descriptive survey research design was employed to attain its objective. The transformational leadership questionnaire and the teachers’ job satisfaction questionnaire were employed as instruments of data collection. Therefore, the reviewer followed theoretical, epistemological and statistical assumptions of quantitative research while critically review the article. Accordingly, despite some flaws existed in the study that might lessen its empirical power and reputation, the study was worthwhile in examining the transformational theoretical leadership paradigm in the Ethiopian context. It was suggested that audiences need to consider its shortfalls while using the study findings and future studies need to consider such inaccuracies.

A special attention has been given to education system in Ethiopia especially in the Ethiopian Institute of Textile and Fashion design, Bahir Dar University after Educational Sector Development Program (ESDP I, 2003) was developed and implemented. Initially, before ESDP I, the ways of teaching and learning were mainly based on behaviorist approaches. This behaviorist approach to learning and teaching is gradually changed to cognitive and constructivist approaches which are mostly used in advanced education systems. These approaches to learning and teaching are mainly focused on learners themselves. Therefore, student-centered and active learning became the slogans in education system in Ethiopia. This study investigates the teachers’ perception and implementation of constructivist learning and teaching methods in Ethiopia specifically in the Ethiopian Institute of Textile and Fashion design Technology, Bahia Dar University. It is vast to investigate each and every aspect of constructivist learning. So, the researcher selected to investigate the mostly used methods (question-answer, individual and group-work) considering constructivism in the Ethiopian Institute of Textile and Fashion Design Technology (EiTEX). The mentioned methods are investigated in the light of constructivism. The researcher investigated the methods considering four criteria of constructivist method given by Navistar et.al, (2009). The criteria are: assessing student’s prior knowledge, differentiating what is already known and what should be learnt, changing students pre-concept in the context of new knowledge and reflection on learning. To examine teachers’ use and implementation of constructivist learning and teaching methods, the questionnaire was employed. The findings showed that around half of the teachers have positively perceived and implemented the mentioned methods in line with constructivism, while remaining teachers still implement these methods as a traditional way of teaching. Moreover, teachers seem to be more constructivists in perception and applying individual work method as compared to group-work activities. In some cases, teachers who participated…

The study attempts to explore the determinants of dividend smoothing behavior of Asian firms during the period from 2009-2018. The study used firm’s specific characteristics, corporate governance and ownership structure variables as determinants of dividend smoothing in Asia due to their unique features from Western markets. Based on gender critical mass theory, the study finds the presence of gender critical mass is positive and significantly associated with firm dividend smoothing behavior; whereas, presence of fever women depicts negative or insignificant association with dividend smoothing behavior. In addition, study finds that firms with board interlock and larger in size don’t follow dividend smoothing. In contrast, the findings show that higher market to book value leads to firm’s dividend smoothing behavior. Importantly, the study also finds moderation role of gender diversity between family ownership and firm’s dividend smoothing behavior. Importantly, the study splits the sample into male and female CEO and findings show that the role of gender diversity is more pronounced in firms with male CEO. These results are consistent with the predictions of gender critical mass theory. Further, contrary to the agency theory based explanations of dividend smoothing, firms with family ownership smooth dividend more. These findings suggest that gender critical mass, family ownership and higher market to book value contribute positively in dividend smoothing behavior in Asian market.

Campylobacter species are one of four key global causes of human diarrheal diseases, according to W.H.O. It is considered to be the most common bacterial cause of human gastroenteritis in the world. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Campylobacter coli (C. coli) and Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) in Greek commercial swine farms, and describe the antimicrobial resistance of the isolated strains. A total of 1,000 rectal swabs (50 per farm) were collected from twenty swine farms in Greece. Ten rectal samples had been randomly collected from each of five age-groups (suckling piglets, nursery pigs, grower pigs, finisher pigs, sows). Isolation of Campylobacter spp. was performed using the ISO 10272-1:2017. A PCR method, based on the amplification of mapAC.jejuni and ceuEC.coli specific genes, was used for identification of the isolated strains. All isolates were tested for their susceptibility against gentamycin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline and meropenem; EUCAST guidelines were used for the interpretation. The results showed that 16 out of the 20 farms (80%) and 491 (49%) of the samples were positive for Campylobacter spp. Prevalence of C.coli was 38% (95% CI 35.1-41.1) and of C.jejuni 10.9% (95% CI 9,1-13.0). Sows were 1.4 times more likely to be colonized by Campylobacter spp than sucking piglets (p

The subject article is dedicated to the creation of test system for examination of students in a subject of computer science. The software testing users as well as the software on automation of creation of tests and the analysis of the tests handed over by the users are developed.

Vehicles on the road are increasing in number and traffic conditions are getting worse exposing one to a plethora of diseases by going out on the traffic. People do not know the actual measure of the quality of the air they breathe outside on a regular basis, but it is of utmost importance to know of such in order to take precautionary measures. This study sought to make the quality of air known to the general public. Consequently, a microcontroller-centered device which could measure CO, NOx, and C6H6 concentrations in ambient air was developed along with a web application to display and visualize the data. The device uses a fan to sample air into an aluminum pipe containing metal oxide semiconductor gas sensors which detect and measure the gas concentrations in terms of mg/m3. An aluminum steel mesh is installed on the device’s inlet to filter out dust particles and is regularly cleaned by a vibration motor. The web application tabulates and plots data near-real-time whilst presenting the air quality index and a short-term exposure limit warning. Multiple devices can be deployed through registering in the web application. Two three-hour sampling data were gathered at dawn and in the morning along the University of San Carlos – Talamban Campus’ Portal which showed how the pollutant concentrations were low at dawn and which slowly grew higher during the transition to morning when road traffic began. Verification of the device’s readings was done through comparing its results with a private emission testing center’s exhaust gas analyzer. Air quality at the university’s portal was found to be in good condition during the monitoring periods.

While younger adults have embraced internet technology, older adults have lagged behind in internet adoption. An age-based digital divide has developed globally. This is a concern because digital literacy is becoming an essential, rather than an optional, skill. This paper investigates the reasons why some able-bodied older adults with access to the internet choose not to use the internet. Previous studies of the age-based digital divide have identified income and education, and perceived need, as factors that influence internet use. This paper adds to knowledge on the age-based digital divide by studying the internet behavior of able-bodied older adults with internet access (rather than all older adults) and by investigating the association between “feeling too old to use the internet” and the internet use decision. This paper offers suggestions for bridging the age-based digital divide and discusses whether this divide will continue as younger adults, who are digital natives, become older adults.

This narrative review is based on a literature search on PsycINFO and PubMed that involved entering the terms adolescent pornography. Following exclusion criteria, 31 papers could be classified as adolescent pornography studies including research on the prevalence, effects and risk factors for pornography. Most of the studies have been conducted in other countries where the prevalence of adolescent pornography has ranged from 8%-22% for habitual use. The effects of pornography have included legal problems, permissive attitudes and unrealistic expectations regarding sex as well as problematic behaviors including victimization and assault. The predictor or risk variables have included male gender, family dysfunction and sensation-seeking. Like other literature on adolescent problems, this research is limited by primarily deriving from self–report and parent report and by the absence of longitudinal data that might inform whether the data being reported are effects of or risk factors for adolescent pornography and the need for prevention/intervention research.