Archives-March 2014

The synthesized 4-hydroxy Coumarin was investigated for the purpose of developing a new chemical ?-radiation dosimeter. The compound was exposed to 60Co ?-radiation source at room temperature. The compound dosimeter exhibited good sensitivity to ?-radiation of dose less than 30 Gy and a fairly good linearity of response in dose range 0-25Gy. The present compound may be used as sensitive, and as well as cost-effective dosimeter in 0-25Gy ?-radiation environment.

Employee empowerment seeks to increase the employees’ responsibility, build their morale and improve the quality of their work life by creating a working environment where an employee is allowed to make his own decisions or participate in the decisions of the management in specific work-related situations. Ideally, when an employee feels valued in an organization, he will be more productive, loyal and confident. The main purpose of this study was to establish the influence of employee empowerment on primary school teachers’ performance in Kakamega Central District., Kenya. The study used descriptive and correlation survey design to collect data from 164 teachers through questionnaires and document analysis. Data was analysed using frequencies, percentages and Pearson’s Product moment correlation coefficient test. The study concluded that the autonomy the teachers’ had in their work execution and the impact of their duties had the greatest influence on teachers’ performance. Competence, manifested as training, knowledge and skills they possessed had a minimal effect on teachers’ performance. The study recommends that employees should be encouraged to value their work and be allowed to participate in decision making especially on issues related to task accomplishment in a bid to enhance their performance.

The rapid pace of globalization in the international system has caused states to be faced with many challenges and opportunities. Countries deal with these opportunities and threats based on their culture, politics, economics, and other factors affecting the process of globalization. In recent years, democracy as a principle accepted by most industrial societies is being entered into other societies, especially the countries of the Third World. The globalization of democracy as a part of the globalization process on the one hand and the rise of exchange rate as well as the level of political, economic, cultural and social dependence of societies on each other on the other hand has caused western countries to try to use this opportunity and spread their desired pattern in the form of liberal democrats to other parts of the world. Meanwhile, western countries use some impressive tools to export democracy to the third world societies. However, some of these societies have moved toward democracy with open arms while others opposed it and have not accepted it yet.

Since 2005, Ethiopia’s national guideline for tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) collaborative activity recommend HIV testing and counseling as part of routine TB care. However, the number of patients with TB that know their HIV status remains low. The objective of our study was to assess the HIV testing and counseling among patients with TB at Arbaminch Hospital, Southern Ethiopia. We conducted a cross sectional study from January to April 2012 at Arbaminch Hospital (AMH). Patients newly diagnosed with TB who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled for this study. We calculated our sample size using a single proportion formula and participants were recruited sequentially. Socio-demographic and TB/HIV related information for study participants were collected using a pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire. The HIV status and other clinical data of study participants were taken from the TB treatment registration book in the TB clinic. We enrolled a total of 76 people newly diagnosed patients with TB. The majority of study participants (92%) reported that they were consulted by physician to take an HIV test when they were diagnosed with TB. Among study participants consulted by physician to get HIV testing, 88.6% were willing to get tested among which majority has their status documented. After the test, only 41.4% (n=24/58) received counseling services among which 33.3% (n=8/24) tested HIV positive. Overall, 23.7% of the study participants were receiving anti-TB treatment and had unknown HIV status. Most of the patient related factors we assessed were not associated with obtaining consultation and counseling services or with willingness to get tested. Provision of HIV testing and counseling service for people with TB in the Hospital was low and poorly integrated, which illustrates that work remains to be done to ensure all people with TB have a known HIV status. It sounds like improving the awareness of physicians on the benefit of HIV testing and improving coordination between physicians and TB clinic workers is of paramount importance in improving the uptake of consultation and counseling services, and in increasing willingness of TB patients to get tested.

Wavelet transform or wavelet analysis is a recently developed mathematical tool in applied mathematics. In this paper, A survey on the use of the Haar wavelet method to solve linear and nonlinear integral equations (Volterra, Fredholm, integro-differential equations) is presented. Also, the investigation of Haar wavelet method for solving singular integral equations is presented. Review shows that the Haar wavelet method is efficient and powerful in solving wide class of linear and nonlinear integral equations.

Schistosomiasis mansoni is among the neglected diseases that occur in Brazil, being endemic in 76 countries and territories spread across Africa, Asia and the Americas. The granulomatous process in schistosomiasis is dependent on CD4 + and requires recruitment and accumulation of inflammatory cells at the site of eggs deposition. Schistosomal fibrosis is the result of a granulomatous reaction developed in response to antigens released by eggs of Schistosoma mansoni that are retained in the portal veins of smaller caliber. Manipulation of the interaction between B7 antigen molecules presenting cells (APC) and T cell receptors CD28/CTLA4 modulate and, in some circumstances, even block the immunological response in vivo. Therefore, the objectives of this study were: a) to evaluate treatment with monoclonal mice anti-CD28 (PV-1 cell line hybridoma), b) to evaluate the contribution of the synthesis and release of IL-4 and IL-5 when correlated with IgE and IgG1 levels and granuloma and fibrosis formation during schistosomiasis. Our results suggest that treatment with anti-CD28, on day 64 post-infection, favored a decrease in IL-4 and IL-5 production and decreased levels of IgG1 and IgE expression, as well as a reduction in the collagen deposition resulting from fibrosis.

The monosodium glutamate is commonly used food flavoring agent used worldwide. The present experimental study investigated the effects of orally administered monosodium glutamate (MSG) on the histology of testes of adult male Wistar rat model. Forty adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups; Group A served as controls, Group B. received MSG orally (1 mg/kg), Group C. received MSG orally (2mg/kg) and Group D. received MSG orally (4 mg/kg). Tissue sections of testis from rats in the control (Group A), showed the normal histological features for the seminiferous tubules and interstices. Group B rats revealed normal spermatogenic cells, many spermatids, and edematous interstitial spaces with mild hyperemia. The Group C rats showed inflammatory exudates in interstitial spaces, spermatids were fewer and changes of degeneration of Leydig cells. Group D rats showed severely reduced spermatogonia, very few to totally absent spermatids in the tubules. Sertoli cells were reduced in the tissue sections. The Leydig cells were also diminished in count with severe vacuolar degeneration. Overall, the MSG treated rats showed altered histology of testicular tissue. The present study concluded that the glutamate has deleterious effects on the testicular histology in adult male Wistar rats particularly in high dose therefore caution must be taken for its frequent use in large quantities as a food flavor additive.

Percutaneous treatment of tibial plateau fractures under arthroscopic control, although minimal, is a cause of a decrease in morbidity compared toopen surgery. The objective of this work is to report the functional results, inshort and medium term, of these percutaneous osteosynthesis under arthroscopiccontrol. Fifteen patients were treatedby percutaneous screwing with arthroscopic control for fractures classified Shatzker I to III. The average age was 32 years; the average follow up was 39, 9 months (24 -119 months). We have not noticed postoperative infection, the results were considered good, the score IKS (International Knee Society) average was 83.2 for the knee score and 89 for the function score. One patient presented a secondary bone depression at 35 days post-surgery. Percutaneous treatment of fractures separation or separation anddepression of the lateral plateau conducted under arthroscopy provides satisfaction in terms of postoperative indolence, early recovery and rehabilitation, and seems to have satisfactory results in the short and medium term. We cannot assess the impact on the evolutionosteoarthritis due to lack of sufficient experience.

Ethiopia is one of the leading producers and exporters of coffee. Ethiopia is the fifth largest exporter of coffee among the coffee producing and exporting countries. Majority of the coffee producers in Ethiopia consist of small farmers and many of them depend mainly on coffee for their livelihood. In several parts of Oromiya and SNNP regions of Ethiopia, especially in Jimma and Sidamo zones, primary cooperatives and cooperative unions have been organized exclusively for the coffee producers to market and provide service and supplies to them. Present study is undertaken to know the marketing strategies followed by the cooperative unions, especially with reference to export marketing. As these cooperatives are contributing to the foreign exchange of the country, the study gains relevance to today’s economic situation of the country. The specific objectives of the study are: To study the internal and external marketing practices followed by the sample cooperative unions. To examine the type of competition that exists in export business and the strategies followed to meet such competition, and to analyse the problems faced by the cooperatives in export marketing and to offer suggestions to them. The study was conducted on two cooperative unions, which are better performing in export trade and were purposively selected. The sample Cooperative Unions are Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union and Yirgachefe Coffee Cooperative Union. For deeper study the most successful Cooperative Union, namely Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union and two primary cooperatives affiliated to it were selected. The major findings of the study were: In their export marketing the unions have to face stiff international competition. They are able to withstand such competition and come out successfully by means of improving the quality of coffee, going for fair trade practices and by keeping better rapport with all the stakeholders involved in export trade. As fair trade coffee brings better price and dividend price, the primary cooperatives are educating the farmers to go for such practices continuously. To give value addition, numbers of processing activities are added by the unions. Some times when production is high, the unions are unable to procure the entire produces. During such seasons primaries sell coffee to the private merchants.

Previous studies emphasizing that psychological interventions and pharmacological medications may have a small effect on depressive symptoms in coronary artery patients, and no beneficial effects on reduction of inflammatory markers and mortality rates. Recently there is increasing interest in whether positive psychological states have predictive power over and above depressive symptoms for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. The present study has intended to test and compare the correlation of plasma high sensitivity C-reactive protein and cortisol awakening response’s flexibility with positive psychological states and depression in 54 coronary artery patients. The results of this study indicated that the correlation between high sensitivity C-reactive protein and psychological states only for life satisfaction and subscale of hope "pathways in regard to goals" are significant. Moreover the correlations of cortisol awakening response’s flexibility with happiness, hope and depression were marginally significant. It is possible that directly building the positive psychological states may counteract negative symptoms and may also buffer against their negative biological outcomes.