September 2014

  1. Umar N. Jibril, Sarah D. Martins, Ali Umar, Umar Aliyu, Markus Njiida and Tijani Abioye
    Journal Area:
    ABSTRACT:

    This study compared the management of eclampsia in University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) and State Specialist Hospital (SSH) Maiduguri respectively. The target populations were nurses and doctors working in the department of obstetrics and Gynecology in the two hospitals. An exploratory study design was adopted and convenience sampling method was used to select 100 nurses and doctors (50 from each hospital). A self- developed questionnaire was used for data collection which sought information on: biodata, facilities, management protocol, and factorsmilitating against effective management of eclampsia. The findings shows that 70% of the respondents from the UMTH opined that there are adequate, facilities compared with 60% of respondents from SSH whose views were in the contrary. The majority (70%) of respondents in the UMTH used magnesium sulphateas against 76% of respondents in SSH who used diazepam in the management of eclamptic fit. Study however, concluded that there is need for government to improve on hospital facilities at SSH for management of eclamptic patients.

    Pub. Date: September 30, 2014
    Paper No:
    002
  2. Reza Shaker Ardekani and Hamed Akhgar
    ABSTRACT:

    Urban historical textures are part of the national and cultural heritage of a country that is not only from an aesthetic perspective, continuation of collective memories, but also due to being the residence and living place of millions of people are valuable. However, these textures for economic, social and managerial reasons contain negative characteristics such as image and landscape chaos, lack of proper access, lack of urban facilities and equipment, disturbances in social and economic structure and physical deterioration that lead to evacuation of a large population from these textures. In fact, a main limitation of the historical urban texture, especially in the central parts of cities is getting out of the cycle and economic life of the city. In simple terms, the loss of economic and financial justification causes capital flight from and lack of investment in these areas. One of the interventions to reduce the gap between the amount of capital and investment in historical textures is gentrification which in its framework, renovations, the measures taken and displacement of population has led to the "improvement of the quality of the environment" and "residing of more prosperous classes of society" and consequently, an increase of turnover and the improvement of the texture from the social, economic, cultural, and environmental perspective. But the question is whether the process of renovation of historical urban textures of Iran can be explained in a theoretical framework of gentrification? For this purpose, it has been tried in these pages to use a descriptive - analytical review of documents – library survey, and to introduce this theory and its aspects and this process is explained in the context of Iran's urbanism structure in order to facilitate this theory and reduce problems of the historical texture of Ardakan, and solutions are proposed in micro and macro scales.

    Pub. Date: September 30, 2014
    Paper No:
    004
  3. Nareshkumar, S. and Kumara Ghuru, S.
    ABSTRACT:

    The transportation problem is one of the earliest applications of linear programming problems. In the literature, several methods are proposed for solving transportation problems in fuzzy environment but in all the proposed methods, the parameters are normal fuzzy numbers. In this paper, a general fuzzy transportation problem is discussed. In the proposed method, transportation cost, availability and demand of the product are represented by symmetric triangular fuzzy numbers. We develop fuzzy version of Vogel’s algorithms for finding fuzzy optimal solution of fuzzy transportation problem. A numerical example is given to show the efficiency of the method.

    Pub. Date: September 30, 2014
    Paper No:
    009
  4. Hanan Al Kadi
    Journal Area:
    ABSTRACT:

    Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Both hypovitaminosis D and Type 2 DM are prevalent health problems among Saudi population. Ethnic and gender differences in the association between vitamin D status and type 2 DM were reported. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine vitamin D status in Saudi diabetic women as compared to that of age and BMI matched healthy women. Methods: A total of 120 women, 60 diabetic and 60 age and BMI matched control, were enrolled for this study. Fasting blood samples were collected from all participants and serum was stored at -80ºC until assayed. 25- hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was measured using chemiluminescent immunoassay. Results: Hypovitaminosis D was prevalent among both diabetic and control groups. However, mean 25(OH)D level was lower in the diabetic group (30.45nmol/L) as compared to the control group (34.36nnmol/L) although not statistically significant. Vitamin D deficiency (defined as 25(OH)D level < 25 nmol/L) was more common among the diabetic group, but this did not reach statistical significance (P= 0.708). Conclusion: Although the diabetic women had lower levels of 25(OH)D, vitamin D deficiency was prevalent in both groups. Larger longitudinal studies are required to reveal any relation between hypovitaminosis D and type 2 DM among Saudi subjects.

    Pub. Date: September 30, 2014
    Paper No:
    010
  5. Banumathi, B. and Poovazhaki, R.
    ABSTRACT:

    In this paper, we introduce and investigate the notions of α -sets, semi- open sets, pre-open sets. Then we also introduce the notions of α-continuous mappings, semi-open continuity. Using these concepts we Obtain decompositions of - continuity. Also we investigate some properties and characterizations of these kind of sets with some theorems, examples and counter examples.

    Pub. Date: September 30, 2014
    Paper No:
    011
  6. Sumathi, R. and Syed Shafi, S.
    Journal Area:
    ABSTRACT:

    A simple method for the synthesis of a pyrasolyl-thiazole derivative containing a piperonal moiety was developed by microwave irradiation. The microwave synthesis route afforded better yields with shorter reaction time. Their chemical structure was confirmed by IR, 1H, 13 C, NMR, mass and elemental analysis. All the synthesized compounds were also screened for their potent antimicrobial activity.

    Pub. Date: September 30, 2014
    Paper No:
    020
  7. P.V.Senthiiland Aakash Shirrushti
    ABSTRACT:

    Productivity has been an important concern to all the manufacturing industry. Lean manufacturing emerged as production strategy capable of increasing productivity by identifying and eliminating non value added activities. This article deals with productivity improvement in a Compressor manufacturing industry with a case study using lean concepts with the use of Process flow chart and Time study. The data are collected and analyzed with the use of lean tools namely Value stream mapping, 5S principle, Poka-yoke, Assembly line balancing and Layout design. The new layout is validated by Simulation using promodel shop floor tool.

    Pub. Date: September 30, 2014
    Paper No:
    022
  8. Mara Lúcia de Campos, Carlos Alberto Mourao-Junior, Marcos Antônio Fernandes Brandão, Rita de Cássia da Silveira e Sá, Lorena Ribeiro Silva, Martha Oliveira Guerra
    Journal Area:
    ABSTRACT:

    Valeriana officinalis is used as a mild sedative but should be avoided during pregnancy due to scarce data available about potential effects on the offspring. This paper evaluates physical development and anxiety in female rats whose mothers were exposed to valerian during gestation. Twenty four pregnant rats were distributed into four groups (n=6) and treated orally from the 12th to 19th day of gestation: Control (1 ml of distilled water), and three valerian-treated groups with 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/Kg/day. Four females from each mother were selected to analyzed: time of eye opening, ear unfolding, appearance of lanugo, hair, superior and inferior incisor eruption, vaginal opening; first date of righting reflex, grasping reflex, cliff avoidance, and negative geotaxis. Anxiety was evaluated by the elevated plus-maze test in offspring at age 90 days. Eruption of the inferior incisors (1000 and 2000mg/kg); appearance of lanugo and hair, and eye opening (500 mg/kg) were significantly altered in the offspring. The neuromotor reflexes and the anxiety did not differ between the groups. The physical development in the adult stage was not altered. These findings suggest that maternal treatment with valerian during gestation did not alter physical, neuromotor and anxiety of the offspring.

    Pub. Date: September 30, 2014
    Paper No:
    026
  9. Taura, D. W., Adamu, S., Koki, Y. A., Musa, M. A., Ismail, T. A. and Halliru, H. A.
    Journal Area:
    ABSTRACT:

    Fungal infections such as Aspergillosis and Candidiasis have been given less priority in the diagnosis of respiratory disorders compared to other respiratory tract infections. The research is therefore aimed at screening for Aspergillus and Candida infections among patients with pulmonary symptoms that attend Infectious Diseases Hospital, Kano between April and October, 2011, in order to ascertain the endemicity of the infection and the risk factors and groups associated with the diseases. Two hundred sputum samples were investigated by cultivation on Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar containing antibiotic and examination for the fungal elements. Fungal identification was carried out by direct microscopy and colony morphology. Dalamau plate technique and Germ-tube tests were employed to differentiate yeasts. Of the 200 samples examined, eighty subjects (40.00%) were found to be positive of which 49 (61.25%) were males and 31 (38.75%) were females; 41 (51.25%) were positive with Aspergillus spp where as 39 (48.75%) were found to be positive with Candida spp. Among the Aspergillii, A. niger was the most prevalent (21.25%) while among the candida; C. albicans was the most prevalent (35.00%). Significant association was found between the fungal vulnerability with age and prolonged antibiotic usage. Aspergillus and Candida species were found to preferentially result to or rather complicate bronchopulmonary diseases, hence fungal infections need to be explored in patients with the disorders.

    Pub. Date: September 30, 2014
    Paper No:
    028
  10. Dr.Mahasweta Mallik, Dr.Sujata Mallick and Dr.Manish Kumar
    Journal Area:
    ABSTRACT:

    Papanicolaou screening is the standard of care for detection of abnormal cervical cell. Cervical cells are susceptible to change as a result of hormonal exposure and this has the potential to affect cytologic interpretation. The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy of cervical cytology finding in women using progesterone only contraception as compared to women who used no contraception. Material and methods- A total of 162 women were screened over a period of 3 years. Cytology and histology were done to find out sensitivity and specificity. Result- With no contraception user cervical smear sensitivity was 10% higher than with patient who use progesterone only contraception.

    Pub. Date: September 30, 2014
    Paper No:
    029
  11. Musa, A. K. and Olaniran, R. O.
    Journal Area:
    ABSTRACT:

    Leaf oil of Psidium guajava L.obtained from Soxhlet extraction was tested for insecticidal effect and phytochemical screening against khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). In the laboratory study, groundnut seeds treated with the oil significantly performed better than the control in terms of reduced population and emergence of T. granarium larvae and adults. Percentage mortality of T. granarium in groundnut seeds treated with the oil increased with rate of treatment. The application of the oil at the rate of 0.5 ml gave significantly (p<0.05) higher percentage mortality than the control. Percentage seed weight loss caused by the larvae in 0.5 ml was significantly lower than 30 and 45% observed in 0.3 ml at 30 and 60 DAT respectively. The presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, triterpenoids, cynogenic glycosides, in various amounts is an indication of insecticidal properties of the oil. Lipids and carbohydrates offered reliable nutritional components of the guava oil. Oxalates, tannins, saponins and phenols were absent in the studied leaf oil. Guava leaf oil could form a reliable component of pest management programme against T. granarium in small scale storage of groundnut seeds.

    Pub. Date: September 30, 2014
    Paper No:
    031
  12. Bassima Schbley, PhD, LMSW andLori Maria Walton, PhD, DPT
    ABSTRACT:

    The politicization of religion in the last few decades has created a climate ripe for religious resurgence in all areas of the world. The decreased role of religion among societies and effective secularization and modernization of the West have directly influence opposing factors of “religious resurgence”, “religious fundamentalism”, and “religious revivalism” as a sense of cultural preservation and balancing new social, economic, emotional and interllectural side effects of modernization growth (Sahliyeh, 1990). The effects of religious resurgence on Muslim Lebanese women’s efforts to enhance their freedom, equity, and civil rights need to be explored thoroughly to provide an adequate analysis of the current needs of women living under religious verdicts. A survey of 284 Lebanese university student subjects, between the ages of 18-35, regarding attitudes toward women during religious resurgence was conducted over a period of five years. From the 284 subjects in this study, 124 women also reported self-assessment levels of self-esteem and life satisfaction. The authors delineate the interconnectedness among Lebanese women’s religiosity, self-esteem, and life satisfaction levels. Relationships among attitudes toward women, the number of laws enacted to support women’s rights and equality, and religious resurgence are also assessed. The results of this study suggest that religious resurgence tends to reinforce a bias against women from both secular and religious authorities. Thus, Muslim Lebanese women are vulnerable from within this framework and likely to continue to face major challenges in efforts to enhance their freedom, equity, and civil rights.

    Pub. Date: September 30, 2014
    Paper No: