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The aim of this paper is to examine the validity of impact factor as a metric for evaluation of scientific output of researchers, laboratories, departments and their institutions. The opinion that Impact Factor (IF) is an index that expresses the quality and scientific value of a given researcher/author; departments and their institutions is examined against the critical view point in clinical medicine. Sociological and statistical factors are also considered. Attempt is also made to elucidate on what citation exactly should count for quality in determination of values of IF. Citation frequency as a measure of journal's importance to its end users is considered to be a plausible theory in clinical medicine. Sociological and statistical factors are also seen to have effects on values of IF across subject areas. It is also found out that a count of citations to error in calculation of IF value does not reflect a true value of quality. Appropriate count that reflects quality should be used to compute IF values. Many previous critiques have developed to undermine the use of IF as a metric for evaluation of scientific output of researchers/authors. This article forms the first attempt to identify that all citations to an article do not necessarily count for quality. In this context, the article is original and of great potentials.

We are very happy to announce that from 14th May 2014, Dr. Haji Khan Khoharo has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Physiology. Dr. Haji Khan Khoharo is currently working as Consultant Physician/Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Medical Sciences, Isra University, Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. The appointment of Dr. Haji Khan Khoharo as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. 

We are very happy to announce that from 9th August 2014, Dr. R. Ganapathi Raman has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Growth and characterization of crystals and Nano Materials. Dr. R. Ganapathi Raman currently working as Assistant Professor of Physics, Noorul Islam Center for Higher Education, Noorul Islam University, Kumaracoil, Thuckelay -629 180, Kanyakumari Dt, Tamilnadu, India. The appointment of Dr. R. Ganapathi Raman as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. 

We are very happy to announce that from 21st November 2014, Dr.M.Jagadishnaik has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Agriculture, Entomology and Applied Zoology. Dr.M.Jagadishnaik currently working as Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjuna Nagar, Guntur District, India. The appointment of Dr.M.Jagadishnaik as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. Please send any expressions of interest to elixirpublishers@gmail.com.

We are very happy to announce that from 26th March 2014, Dr.Mehadi Vatan Parast has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Human Geography. Dr.Mehadi Vatan Parast is currently working as Faculty Member of Islamic Azad University, Quchan Branch, Quchan, Iran. The appointment of Dr.Mehadi Vatan Parast as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. Please send any expressions of interest to elixirpublishers@gmail.com. Sincerely Editor-in-Chief

An experiment was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources management, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki in order to evaluate productivity of a degraded ultisol amended with different animal wastes in Abakaliki. The field was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD). There were four treatments viz poultry droppings (PD), Swine Waste (SW), Cow Dung (CD) and Control (C) applied at 12 ha-1, respectively. These treatments were replicated five times. Maize hybrid (Oba super II) and groundnut (Arachis hypogea) were used as test crops. Core and auger samples were collected at 0 – 20 cm depth before and after planting for pre and post planting soil properties determination. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means separated with Fisher’s least significant difference. Results showed that bulk density, total porosity, moisture content, hydraulic conductivity, aggregate stability and mean weight diameter were significantly (P<0.05) higher in poultry droppings amended plots than in control. The texture of soil remained sandy loam. The studied chemical properties showed no significant treatments effect except magnesium that was significantly (P<0.05) higher in PD and CD amendments relative to control. Cow dung treatment significantly (P<0.05) depressed Na compared to control and other animal wastes amendments. Bulk density was lower by 5 and 7% under poultry droppings compared to cow dung and swine waste treatments. Total porosity and hydraulic conductivity were 9,7,4 and 11% higher in PD relative to cow dung and swine wastes amendments. Available P, total N and organic matter were higher under PD treatment by 8, 17, 18, 12, 17 and 27% compared to SW and CD amended plots, respectively. Maize grain and groundnut yields significantly (P<0.05) increased in all animal wastes amended plots relative to control. Animal wastes enhanced physical properties of soil and yields of crops more than chemical ones. Poultry droppings that proved more superior compared to others could be recommended for improving productivity of a degraded soil in the study area.

This paper reviews the current situation with regard to generation of low grade fuels and their prospects of economic conversion into electrical power, the technologies presently available for this purpose, and the problems faced in such efforts. It emphasizes the need for an integrated approach to devise ways and means for generating electrical power from low grade fuels; keeping in mind the requirements of cleaner production and environmental protection so that the initiative leads to a total solution. The calorific value of such fuels varies between 550kcal/kg-1050 kcal/kg as compared to developed countries ie1550kcal/kg to 2050kcal/kg. The combination of various low grade fuels were prepared and tested, experimental analysis amply high light the usage of these fuels as a replacement of coal. There is a shimmering promise that the whole process of using low grade fuel i.e. too Agriwaste harvesting, collection, transport,economic processing and utilization of low grade fuel can be made technically and economically more viable in future. Thus, this paper highlights the value of low grade fuels as a prospective source of electric power and thus serving the remote areas in the form of stand- alone units giving a boost to decentralized power supply. This approach and option seems to be possible in view of its potential contribution to our economic and social development. No doubt, this initiative needs to be backed and perused rigorously for removing regional imbalances as well as strengthening National economy.

We are very happy to announce that from 31st January 2015, Mr.Rudrarup Gupta has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Sales & Distribution Management and E-Commerce. Mr.Rudrarup Gupta currently working as Commercial Manager in Multifarious Projects Group, Kolkata, India. The appointment of Mr.Rudrarup Gupta as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. 

We are very happy to announce that from 24th December 2014, Ms. Babita Bharti has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. She will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Agriculture. Ms. Babita Bharti currently working as Research Associate, FICCI (Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industries), New Delhi, India. The appointment of Ms. Babita Bharti as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal.

The present study was conducted to evaluate wound healing potential of Nigella sativa L. oil extract on induced skin wounds in animal model. The present experimental study was conducted at animal house of Isra University from May to August 2013. A sample of 30 male rabbits was divided into three groups; Group 1. (n=10) controls, Group 2. (n=10) treated with Bacitracin powder and Group 3. (n=10) treated with Nigella sativa (NS) oil extract. The skin of rabbits was shaved after anesthetized with 1% xylocaine subcutaneously. The wound size was observed on days 4, 8 and 12. The tissue samples were embedded in paraffin, and stained with H&E and Masson`s trichrome staining for microscopy. Data was analyzed on SPSS 21.0 using ANOVA and post-Hoc Duncan`s test. Significant p-value was defined at ?0.5. The controls (Group 1) wounds showed severe inflammatory response compared with Bacitracin (Group 2) and NS (Group 3) L. oil extract groups. The animals showed significant differences in wound size days 4, 8 and 12 days among groups (p<0.001) except for controls and Bacitracin groups on 8th day (p=0.06). The wounds in NS group showed abundant robust granulation tissue formation and accelerated wound healing. The Bacitracin group also showed better wounds compared to controls. The microscopy revealed marked vascularity and collagen fibers in NS group compared to either. It can be concluded form present study that the NS oil extract has wound healing potential as indicated by gross wound size and histological findings of skin wound in rabbit model.