bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving the Processability of Water-soluble Films Based on Filled Thermoplastic Polyvinyl Alcohol
Authors: Shi B. , Wideman G. , Wang J. H.
Published: April 2012

Melt extrusion of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) is desirable over commonly practiced solution film casting due to reduced energy input, environmental footprint, and processing cost, however, melt extrusion processing of plasticized polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) presents a significant processing challenge due to inherent adhension issues of extruded PVOH film to the surface of equipment. This paper reports a method using inorganic fillers such as CaCO3 and talc to facilitate the plasticized PVOH processing for blown films.

Parameters are also identified for additional process studies to optimize the mechanical properties of blown films. It was found that the preferred inorganic filler is CaCO3 for the PVOH stickiness reduction. The filled PVOH films were found to have delayed or reduced water solubility. It takes about 7 to 10 minutes for the filled PVOH films to dissolve in water whereas the neat PVOH films are soluble in water instantly. The delayed water solubility may be desirable for certain specialty applications such as packaging of pesticides during shipping and storage. With improved processability by incorporating filler, the melt extrusion produced PVOH film should cost less than the solution-cast PVOH films.
Molecular Orientation Behavior of Isotactic Polypropylene Films under Uniaxial and Biaxial Deformation at Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Yoshida S. , Sawada T. , Kawamura T. , Nitta K.
Published: April 2012

In-situ molecular orientation behavior of isotactic polypropylene films prepared by quenching at 0°C was investigated under uniaxial and biaxial extension at elevated temperatures. Both the retardation value of film and the stress were simultaneously measured during stretching. The stress required to deform films depended on the stretching temperature, but the retardation was nearly independent of temperature.
Constipation  presenting compliant and clinical marker of Parkinsons disease
Authors: Rana AQ
Published: April 2012

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v38i1.10453 Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2012; 38: 41-42
CYP3A Genotypes in Bangladeshi Tuberculosis Patients
Authors: Maruf AA , Ahmed MU , Azad M.A.K. , Ahmed M , Hasnat A
Published: April 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigate the genotype and allelic frequencies of CYP3A in Bangladeshi Tuberculosis (TB) patients which may help for individualized drug dosing and improved therapeutics. Genotyping was done using the extracted genomic DNA from 90 TB patients followed by amplification of target alleles by PCR. Amplified alleles were then digested by restriction enzymes followed by gel electrophoresis & sequencing to identify the targeted alleles namely CYP3A4*1B, CYP3A4*2, CYP3A4*4, CY3A4*5, CYP3A4*6, CYP3A4*10, CYP3A4*18, and CYP3A5*3. In TB patients, no samples were positive for CYP3A4*2, CYP3A4*4, CYP3A4*5, CYP3A4*6, CYP3A4*10, and CYP3A4*18 alleles. One sample was found to be heterozygous for CYP3A4*1B (1.11%). The wild homozygous (CYP3A5*1/*1) genotype frequency was 7.78%, the heterozygous (CYP3A5*1/*3) frequency was 42.22% and the homozygous mutant (CYP3A5*3/*3) frequency was 50% in Bangladeshi TB patients. The absence of the common polymorphic gene suggests that there will be no impact of CYP3A drug metabolizing enzymes on antituberculosis drugs.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v38i1.6978Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2012; 38: 1-5
Device Based Therapy for Treatment of Hypertension
Authors: Majumder AAS , Ullah M , Rahman Z
Published: April 2012

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cardio.v4i2.10270Cardiovasc. j. 2012; 4(2): 111-113
Practice of using gifts as promotional materials for marketing of pharmaceutical products in Bangladesh: A survey conducted on general physicians and representatives from pharmaceutical companies
Authors: Sultana Saki , Khosru Kamrul Hasan
Published: April 2012

The present study was undertaken to find out the promotional strategies followed by the pharmaceutical companies, attitudes and responses of physicians towards these promotional activities and influence of using gifts as promotional materials on the prescribing behavior of the physicians. In the study we found that most pharmaceutical companies believe that pharmaceuticals should be promoted by their quality and availability, not by any other promotional strategies. 84.62% pharmaceutical companies believe that gifts provided by them motivate the physicians to prescribe their products whereas 87% physicians admit that they consider the image of the company and quality of the product while prescribing. We also found that 50.5% physicians preferred information more rather than attractive gifts but only 11.77% pharmaceutical companies agreed with this statement. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sjps.v4i2.10434 S. J. Pharm. Sci. 4(2) 2011: 13-18
Investigations on anti-diabetic medicinal plants used by Sugali tribal inhabitants of Yerramalais of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors: Basha S Khaleel , Sudarsanam G , Mohammad M Silar , Parveen Niaz
Published: April 2012

An Ethno-botanical survey was carried out among the Sugali tribes in Yerramalais of Eastern Ghats, Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh for the exploration of antidiabetic herbal remedies. Diabetes mellitus is one of the common metabolic disorders with micro-and macrovascular complications that results in significant morbidity and mortality. It is considered as one of the five leading causes of death in the world. In Allopathy medicine no satisfactory effective therapy is still available to cure diabetes mellitus. There is increasing demand by patients to use natural products with antidiabetic activity due to side effects associated with the use of insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents. The art of herbal treatment has very deep roots in Indian culture. Even today in most of the rural areas people are depending on herbal drug systems for primary health care. The indigenous knowledge of local traditional healers and native plants used for the treatment of diabetics related health disorders were collected through questionnaire and personal interviews. A total of 10 informants with in the age group of 50 to 68 were interviewed, among them two were tribal practitioners. A total of 21 genera and 18 families were identified which are being used for the treatment of diabetes. Results depict that fresh plant materials were invariably preferred for the treatment of long term complications associated with diabetics. Anti-diabetic medicinal plants used by Sugalis have been listed along with plant parts used. The collected information's are arranged in the alphabetic order of the plant botanical name, family with the local (or) common name, and mode of use is listed. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sjps.v4i2.10435 S. J. Pharm. Sci. 4(2) 2011: 19-24
Dissolution study of Spironolactone by using solid dispersion technique
Authors: Dewan Irwin , Islam SM Ashraful , Shahriar Mohammad
Published: April 2012

The main objective of the current study was to formulate poorly water soluble drug Spirinolactone by using solid dispersion technique in order to achieve a better dissolution rate which would further help in enhancing oral bioavailability. Solid dispersions were prepared using two methods; solvent method and fusion method. Solid dispersion was prepared by using polymers, such as Hydroxy propylymethyl cellulose (HPMC 6cp), Hydroxy propyl cellulose (HPC), Sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC), Povidone K12, Povidone K30, Poloxamer 407. Solid dispersions containing Spironolactone with HPC (96.81%), HPMC 6cp (93.05%), Poloxamer 407 (90.84%) and Na-CMC (89.93%) provided higher release rate than the release rate of solid dispersion containing only Spironolactone (35.27%), and Spironolactone with Povidone K12 (76.17%), Povidone K30 (67.92%). So the present study revealed that the solid dispersion may be an ideal means of drug delivery system for poorly water soluble drugs. Further study in this field was required to establish these drug delivery systems so that in future it can be used effectively in commercial basis.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sjps.v4i2.7776S. J. Pharm. Sci. 4(2) 2011: 42-47
Instrumentalising the Holocaust: Israel, Settler-Colonialism, Genocide (Creating a Conversation between Raphaël Lemkin and Ilan Pappé)
Authors: Docker John
Published: April 2012

With the appearance in 2010 of an essay by Martin Shaw, ‘Palestine in an International Historical Perspective on Genocide’, Holy Land Studies has taken the hermeneutic initiative in bringing together into the one field of analysis two areas that have usually been kept separate, genocide studies and studies of the history of Palestine-Israel. In an important challenge to contemporary scholarship, Shaw makes a cogent critique of the notion of ‘ethnic cleansing’ as euphemistic and perpetrator-inflected. I follow Shaw in translating ‘ethnic cleansing’ as ‘genocide’ of a group or society by deploying the terms and argument of Raphaël Lemkin, the creator of the concept of ‘genocide’ and prime mover in the 1948 UN Convention on genocide.
Response: The Jewish (Prophetic) Prison
Authors: Ellis Marc H.
Published: April 2012

In my response to Oren Ben-Dor's article, I evaluate his understanding of the problematic of Jewishness. For many Jews and non-Jews alike, Ben-Dor's understandings and how he applies them to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and the larger Jewish ‘question,’ are no-go areas. Ben-Dor should not be dismissed so easily. With other Israeli Jews, he is part of a novum in Jewish history: Jews who leave an empowered Jewish community because of the injustice caused by that power. In a strange twist, Ben-Dor's Jewishness, which he believes causes so much difficulty for Jews and the world, is the place from which the Jewish prophetic – and his thought – emerges.
The Arab Spring, Digital Youth and the Challenges of Education and Work
Authors: Herrera Linda , Mayo Peter
Published: April 2012

Aided by new media and digital communication tools, youths have helped foster a democratic ethos throughout North Africa and the Middle East regions. The internet generation has a very firm grip on rights, civic liberties and democratic accountability and has well honed the art of single issue campaigns using new media. This paper argues that, for the most part, youth movements using new media platforms exhibit great adeptness at articulating a way forward for civic and political rights, and are on more shaky footing when it comes to economic rights, fair labour practices, and distributive justice. It explores possibilities for economic and democratic renewal in this context.
What Behaviors are Disapproved? Experimental Evidence from Five Dictator Games
Authors: López-Pérez Raúl , Vorsatz Marc
Published: April 2012

The literature on social norms has often stressed that social disapproval is crucial to foster compliance with norms and promote fair and cooperative behavior. With this in mind, we explore the disapproval of allocation decisions using experimental data from five dictator games with a feedback stage. Our data suggests that subjects are heterogeneous in their disapproval patterns, distinguishing two main groups: (1) Subjects who only disapprove choices that harm them, and (2) subjects who disapprove socially inefficient choices.
Synthesis, Molecular Docking and Preliminary in-Vitro Cytotoxic Evaluation of Some Substituted Tetrahydro-naphthalene (2',3',4',6'-Tetra-O-Acetyl-β-D-Gluco/-Galactopyranosyl) Derivatives
Authors: Al-Mutairi Maha S. , Al-Abdullah Ebtehal S. , Haiba Mogedda E. , Khedr Mohammed A. , Zaghary Wafaa A.
Published: April 2012

A facile, convenient and high yielding synthesis of novel S-glycosides and N-glycosides incorporating 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene and or 1,2-dihydropyridines moieties has been described. The aglycons 2, 4, and 7 were coupled with different activated halosugars in the presence of basic and acidic medium. The preliminary in-vitro cytotoxic evaluation revealed that compounds 3c, 3f, 5c and 7b show promising activity. A molecular docking study was performed against tyrosine kinase (TK) (PDB code: 1t46) by Autodock Vina. The docking output was analyzed and some compounds have shown hydrogen bond (H-B) formation with reasonable distances ranged from 2.06 A° to 3.06 A° with Thr 670 and Cys 673 residues found in the specified pocket. No hydrogen bond was observed with either Glu 640 nor Asp 810 residues, as was expected from pdbsum.
Calcite Biohybrids as Microenvironment for Stem Cells
Authors: Astachov Liliana , Nevo Zvi , Vago Razi
Published: April 2012

A new type of composite 3D biomaterial that provides extracellular cues that govern the differentiation processes of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been developed. In the present study, we evaluated the chondrogenecity of a biohybrid composed of a calcium carbonate scaffold in its calcite polymorph and hyaluronic acid (HA). The source of the calcite scaffolding is an exoskeleton of a sea barnacle Tetraclita rifotincta (T. rifotincta), Pilsbry (1916). The combination of a calcium carbonate-based bioactive scaffold with a natural polymeric hydrogel is designed to mimic the organic-mineral composite of developing bone by providing a fine-tuned microenvironment. The results indicate that the calcite-HA interface creates a suitable microenvironment for the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs, and therefore, the biohybrid may provide a tool for tissue-engineered cartilage.
METHODOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES OF EVALUATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE IN THE CONTEXT OF CHANGING SCIENTIFIC PARADIGMS / KULTŪROS PAVELDO VERTINIMO METODOLOGINĖS PERSPEKTYVOS BENDRŲJŲ MOKSLINIŲ PARADIGMŲ KAITOS KONTEKSTE
Authors: Petrušonis Vytautas
Published: April 2012

The situation when objects of cultural heritage are evaluated and interpreted on the basis of denotative knowledge without taking into account additional connotative and broader background information regarding the cultural context, witnesses a crisis of methodology. This crisis is related with a crisis of mentality in the phase of industrial civilisation. To Lithuania's disadvantage, the most important concern of cultural heritage assessment methodology is that objects ignore the context, while the cultural heritage protection process is inflexible and unable to find common ground with processes of environmental renewal and urban renovation. Such cultural heritage assessment methodology represents ideologies of so called classical and non-classical scientific paradigms. The renovation of cultural heritage assessment methodology could be achieved only when methodological advantages and conceptual possibilities of the so called post-non-classical paradigm would be taken into account. Only then it would be possible to coordinate both protection of cultural heritage as well as creative activity of architects in the field of contemporary architecture while making architectural designs for historically developed cities. The main features of the post-non-classical paradigm can be disclosed: new modes of social communication, knowledge generation and use of the informational technologies, taking into account the context of globalisation. Santrauka Svarbiausias kultūros paveldo vertinimo metodologijos trūkumas yra tai, kad objektai vertinami ignoruojant tapsmo kontekstą, todėl kultūros paveldo apsaugos procesas yra nelankstus, negali rasti sąlyčio su aplinkos atnaujinimo, urbanistinio renovavimo, naujos architektūros kūrimo procesais. Toks kultūros paveldo vertinimo metodologijos būvis yra nulemtas atotrūkio nuo bendrųjų mokslinių metodologinių principų kaitos proceso, yra „užsikonservavęs“ klasikinio ir neklasikinio mokslo idėjų lauke. Tam, kad kultūros paveldo vertinimo metodologija galėtų atsinaujinti ir adekvačiai spręsti kultūros paveldo apsaugos tiek strateginius, tiek taktinius uždavinius ir kartu neblokuoti inovacinių procesų architektūros ir urbanistikos lauke, būtina iš esmės persvarstyti kultūros paveldo apsaugos metodinius principus. Taikant kultūros paveldo vertinimo metodologiją, turi būti įvertintos jos nuostatos orientuojantis į postneklasikiniame mokslinės raidos etape išryškėjusias socialinės komunikacijos, žinių generavimo ir jų panaudojimo praktinėms problemoms spręsti informacinės visuomenės ir globalizacijos sąlygomis galimybes.
CONDITION AND PROBLEMS OF KAUNAS FORTRESS / KAUNO TVIRTOVĖS KULTŪROS PAVELDO OBJEKTŲ BŪKLĖ IR PROBLEMOS
Authors: Steponaitytė Nijolė
Published: April 2012

The paper discusses objects of the research on Kaunas Fortress, listing of the Fortress in the Register of Cultural Property of the Republic of Lithuania, and process for establishing respective territory and preservation zones. Some protection objects – forts, batteries and their territories – are analysed from the point of view of new construction penetration into the territories and preservation zones of cultural heritage. Creation of terriologic reservates around objects of the Fortress and their regulation influence to buildings is discussed. Natural environment planning, the European Union supported projects, their results and realisation, practical benefit, some solutions of the master plan of Kaunas, that harm objects of cultural heritage territories of Kaunas Fortress are discussed as well.

Santrauka

Straipsnyje aptariami Kauno tvirtovės objektų tyrimai, įtraukimas į LR nekilnojamojo kultūros paveldo vertybių registrą, teritorijų ir apsaugos zonų nustatymas. Analizuojama kai kurių Kauno tvirtovės gynybinių statinių teritorijų būklė, naujų statybų skverbimasis į kultūros paveldo objektų apsaugos zonas ir teritorijas. Aptariamas teriologinių draustinių įkūrimas tvirtovės gynybiniuose objektuose, jų nuostatų įtaka statiniams, gamtotvarkos planų ir kitų Europos Sąjungos finansuojamų projektų rezultatai ir siūlymų įgyvendinimas, praktinė nauda, kai kurie Kauno miesto Bendrojo plano sprendiniai, kenkiantys Kauno tvirtovės kultūros paveldo objektų išlikimui.
Report on Disaster Medical Operations with Acupuncture/Massage Therapy after the Great East Japan Earthquake
Authors: Takayama Shin , Kamiya Tetsuharu , Watanabe Masashi , Hirano Atsushi , Matsuda Ayane , Monma Yasutake , Numata Takehiro , Kusuyama Hiroko , Yaegashi Nobuo
Published: April 2012

The Great East Japan Earthquake inflicted immense damage over a wide area of eastern Japan with the consequent tsunami. Department of Traditional Asian Medicine, Tohoku University, started providing medical assistance to the disaster-stricken regions mainly employing traditional Asian therapies.

We visited seven evacuation centers in Miyagi and Fukushima Prefecture and provided acupuncture/massage therapy. While massage therapy was performed manually, filiform needles and press tack needles were used to administer acupuncture. In total, 553 people were treated (mean age, 54.0 years; 206 men, 347 women). Assessment by interview showed that the most common complaint was shoulder/back stiffness. The rate of therapy satisfaction was 92.3%. Many people answered that they experienced not only physical but also psychological relief.

At the time of the disaster, acupuncture/massage therapy, which has both mental and physical soothing effects, may be a therapeutic approach that can be effectively used in combination with Western medical practices.
Phragmén–Lindelöf alternative of exponential type for the solutions of a fourth order dispersive equation
Authors: Quintanilla Ramon , Saccomandi Giuseppe
Published: April 2012

In a recent paper (R. Quintanilla, G. Saccomandi. Quarterly Applied Mathematics, 44, (2006) 547–560) we investigated the spatial behavior of a linear equation of fourth order which models several mechanical situations where dispersive e¤ects are taken into account. We proved a polynomial decay estimate for the solutions of this equation. In the present note we improve this result and we show a Phragmén–Lindelöf alternative of exponential type.
Toward a geometric construction of fake projective planes
Authors: Keum JongHae
Published: April 2012

We give a criterion for a projective surface to become a quotient of a fake projective plane. We also give a detailed information on the elliptic fibration of a (2, 3)-elliptic surface that is the minimal resolution of a quotient of a fake projective plane
Synoptic climatology and recent climate trends at Lake El'gygytgyn
Authors: Nolan M. , Cassano E. , Cassano J.
Published: April 2012

Abstract. We developed a synoptic climatology for Lake El'gygytgyn, Chukotka Russia, and explored modern climate trends affecting air temperatures there to aid in paleoclimate reconstructions of a 3.6 million year old sediment core taken from the lake. Our self-organized mapping (SOM) approach identified 35 synoptic weather patterns, based on sea level pressure, that span the range of synoptic patterns that influence the study domain over the 1961–2009 NCEP/NCAR reanalysis period. We found strong seasonality in modern weather patterns, with summer weather primarily characterized by weak low pressure systems over the Arctic Ocean or Siberia and winter weather primarily characterized by strong high pressures over the Arctic Ocean with strong low pressures in the Pacific Ocean. In general the primary source of variation in air temperatures came from the dominant patterns in each season, which we identify in the text, and nearly all of the dominant weather patterns here have shown increasing temperatures. We found that nearly all of the warming in mean annual temperature over the past 50 years (about 3 °C) occurred during sub-freezing conditions on either side of summer (that is, spring and fall). Here we found that the most summer-like weather patterns (low pressures to the North) in the shoulder seasons were responsible for much of the change. Finally we compared the warmest 15 years of the record (1995–2009) to the coolest (1961–1975) and found that changes in thermodynamics of weather were about 3 to 300 times more important than changes in frequency of weather patterns in controlling temperature variations during spring and fall, respectively. That is, in the modern record, general warming (local or imported) is more important by orders of magnitude than changes in storm tracks in controlling air temperature at Lake El'gygtgyn, and we conclude with a discussion of how these results may be relevant to the paleoclimate reconstruction efforts.
Impact of Determinants on Student Performance towards Information Communication Technology in Higher Education
Authors: Sari Arif
Published: April 2012

New teaching and learning techniques are developing day by day with the support of information technology and the Internet. Many universities take the advantage of support of information technologies on teaching and learning environments. Each individual’s physical, mental and emotional skills are different. It is emphasized that, more importance are given to individuals performances while they are in groups in those places where the traditional teaching approaches is dominated. At this point, individual performance of individuals and their different learning abilities could not be evaluated alone and left in the background. In these places, it is also stated the importance of learning in groups but not individually. The attitude of an individual towards the computer could be defined as a positive or negative view of the individual on the computer technology or the computer-supported applications. In the development of the attitude of the students, their personal characteristics, perception of computers, frequency of their use of computers, their sex, age and previous experiences play an important role. Some experts find it striking that when attitudes towards the computers are investigated, the researches are concentrated more on teachers and teachers-to-be, while studies on establishing the attitude of students are limited in number. For that reason, this study focuses on impact of determinants of student performance and evaluates this performance through an exploratory research.
Effect of Question Structure on College Students’ Electronic Reflection Outcomes: A Case Study
Authors: Chou Pao-Nan
Published: April 2012

This study aims to design different types of reflection questions to support college students’ electronic reflection. Whether or not the reflection question structure may influence students’ reflection outcomes is the research focus. According to various cognitive learning concepts, three types of reflection questions, which include surface, medium and deep questions, are designed and implemented in three weeks of the class. Forty college students majoring in instructional technology participated in this study. The results of the qualitative analysis showed that the surface reflection question yields swallow reflection works, and the medium and deep reflection questions allow students to produce meaningful reflection contents. The results of the quantitative analysis showed that the medium and deep reflection questions are better than the surface reflection question in terms of critical thinking. However, no significant difference is found between the medium and deep reflection questions.
Measuring Customers Loyalty of Islamic Banking in Bahawalpur Region
Authors: Hassan M. Taimoor , Ahmed Bilal , Ahmed Saleem , Habib Umair , Riaz Saim , Maqbool Nadeem , Anwar Abia
Published: April 2012

Purpose: The basic purpose of measuring the customer’s loyalty in Islamic banking in Bahawalpur region is their long term commitment.Design/methodology/approach: This research has been conducted utilizing the actual data with the help of a questionnaire based on the literature extensively written on Islamic banking services, to develop a viable model to explore the attributes which lead towards the customer loyalty in utilizing the financial services of Islamic banks in Bahawalpur region. A new dimension is added by conducting research on customer’s loyalty in Islamic banking in Bahawalpur region, taking sample of 125 respondents from 20 banks operating in Islamic banking services of this region.Findings: Factors abstracted from the customers loyalty are, customers satisfaction, switching cost, customers perception, success philosophy and trust and commitment. It is found that these factors significantly affect the customer’s loyalty in Islamic banking and are greatly associated with the customer’s loyalty.Research limitations/ implication: Only available material is studied in spite of all the material and research is implicated in Bahawalpur region only.  The sample size is small to only 125 respondents but the results are implicated on overall customer’s loyalty in Islamic banking.Practical implications: Pakistani banks are needed to take initiative in creating awareness about Islamic banking and providing more effective services.Originality/ value: This is one of the very first researches on customers loyalty in Islamic banking conducted in Bahawalpur region and could be very useful for countries adopting Islamic banking.Key words: Customers loyalty, Islamic banking.
A Sociological Analysis of Education as a Prerequisite for the Process of Development: A Case of Southern Punjab (Pakistan)
Authors: Sattar Tehmina
Published: April 2012

Government of Pakistan has been constantly striving to perk up and stabilize the process of development. One of the major sectors which become the victim of negligence is education sector of Southern Punjab (Pakistan). The significance of education can be judged by the fact that literacy rate is an imperative parameter for Human Development Index (HDI). Education is the most imperative asset for enhancing human abilities and capabilities. At the micro level education is allied with huge income generating opportunities while at the macro level education fabricates skilled labor force and contributes to sustainable development. The new stipulate for increased professionalism on the part of education system is the major determinant of development for Pakistan. But regrettably the education sector of Pakistan is facing many challenges like low budget allocation, lack of accountability, pathetic potential for resource mobilization, poverty, gender discrimination, low quality education and weak policy framework. The researcher assembled the data from N1=600 respondents from affiliated schools of Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE). Interview schedule was used as a tool for data collection procedure for the purpose of research accomplishment cross sectional survey research design. Thus the researcher found that innovation, broad vision and market awareness are the major prerequisites of education in the contemporary world. Despite this education fabricated a tolerant society (equipped with skilled labor force and innovation process) by crafting new knowledge for the purpose of economic growth and sustainable development.
Factors Affecting Nursing Student’s Satisfaction with E- Learning Experience in King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Ali Wafaa Gameel Mohamed
Published: April 2012

Background; the use of information technology and the internet as teaching and learning tool is rapidly expanding into today’s learning environments. Education institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are preparing students for a rapidly changing information and technology driven world. The KSA needs graduates who are ready for the workplace and who have a high level of knowledge and confidence in the use of technology to help them in their lifelong learning. Since e- learning is conducted using the Internet and World Wide Web, the learning environment becomes more complicated. Students’ initial perceived satisfaction with technology-based e- learning will determine whether they will use the system continually. So this study aimed to assess perceived e-learner satisfaction and investigate the preceding factors influence on nursing students’ satisfaction with e-learning experience in King Khalid University.  Subjects: A convenience sample of 135 female nursing students affiliated to University Center for Female Studies, King Khalid University was enrolled in this study. Tool: data were collected by using three tools. The first was concerned with collecting data related to sample characteristics, the second concerned with identifying the factors that may affect the e–learner satisfaction with e–learning. The third concerned with measuring the learner satisfaction with e–learning. Results; revealed that 61.5% of participant students were unsatisfied with their e-learning experience and learner attitude towards computer, learners’ computer anxiety, e-learning course flexibility, e- learning course quality, technology quality, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, diversity in assessment, and learner perceived interaction with others were the critical factors affecting learners’ perceived satisfaction. Recommendation &implications: Helping students build their confidence in using computers will make e- learning more enjoyable. Also course content should be relevant, logically organized, easy to use, carefully designed, and presented sparingly. The results show institutions how to improve learner satisfaction and further strengthen their e- learning implementation. Key words: E-learning, E- learner Satisfaction, Factors Affecting E- learner Satisfaction.
Career Services Provision to Secondary School Students in Tanzania: Is it a dream or Reality?
Authors: Mabula Nkuba
Published: April 2012

Career services provision include all actions which deal with giving students information and psychological assistance that may directly affect their decisions and choices which these individuals are about to make on their schooling and employment. The purpose of this study was to examine the status of career services provision and its role on career decision making among high school students in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania by comparing career services provision in government and international schools. Specifically, the study intended to identify the career programs available to students in schools, students’ career knowledge and the contribution of career programs and career knowledge to students’ career decision making. The study was conducted in six secondary schools using a sample of 322 students. The data from students were collected through a structured questionnaire and focus group discussions. The results revealed that students in international schools had access to many career programs and they have better knowledge on careers as compared to students in government schools. It was therefore concluded that, career services provision in international schools is to some degrees a reality as opposed to government schools where career services provision is still a dream. It is suggested that, future research can observe the role of career services provision in secondary schools to students’ ability to make relevant course choices in higher learning institutions.
Studying Relationship between Organizational Justice and Employees' Performance Case study: Damloran Pharmaceutical Company in Borojerd, Iran
Authors: Mehrabi Javad , Javadi Mohammad Hossein Moshref , Charmian Ahmad , Zadeh Nasim Darvish , Tanhaei Mohammad Hasan
Published: April 2012

Objective of the study: The present survey studies relationship between organizational justice and employees' performance in one of the pharmaceutical companies of Borojerd  township in Iran.Tools and methods: Organizational justice has been analyzed in this survey with three dimensions of distributive justice, procedural justice, and interactional justice and employees' performance has been considered with two indexes of effectiveness and efficiency. Statistical population of the survey included one-hundred seventy nine (179) persons of Damloran–Razak Pharmaceutical Company in Borojerd Township. Number of the sample was calculated equal to one-hundred twenty three (123) employees and thirty three (33) managers. Sampling was conducted through classified random method. Data analysis was accomplished using correlation test, Kolmogoroff-Smirnoff and binomial test.Findings: according to the research results, there was not any positive and significant relationship between organizational justice and employees' performance.Conclusion: factors of distributive justice, procedural justice and interactional justice and generally organizational justice haven't been in a desirable status in the organization under study. This may have plausible results for the organization in the long-term. Therefore, all organizations generally and Damloran-Razak Pharmaceutical Company specially must do their best to reinforce the process of justice in distribution of consequences, procedures and social interactions.
Emerging Psychosis and the Family
Authors: Hambrecht Martin
Published: April 2012

Schizophrenias hold a special position among psychotic disorders. Schizophrenias often start in early adulthood and bear considerable psychosocial risks and consequences. Several years of nonpsychotic clinical signs and symptoms and growing distress for patient and significant others may pass by before definite diagnosis. Young males in particular often experience their first episode while still living in their primary families. Thus, the whole family system is involved. In worldwide initiatives on early detection and early intervention, near-psychotic prodromal symptoms as well as deficits of thought and perception, observable by the affected person himself, were found to be particularly predictive of psychosis. Various psychological and social barriers as well as ones inherent to the disease impede access to affected persons. Building trust and therapeutic alliance are extremely important for counseling, diagnostics, and therapy. The indication for strategies of intervention differs from the early to the late prodromal stage, depending on proximity to psychosis. For psychotherapy versus pharmacotherapy, the first evidence of effectiveness has been provided. A false-positive referral to treatment and other ethical concerns must be weighed against the risks of delayed treatment.
Carbon Dioxide as a Microbial Toxicity Enhancer of Some Antibacterial Agents: A New Potential Water Purification Tool
Authors: Martirosyan Varsik , Hovnanyan Karlen , Ayrapetyan Sinerik
Published: April 2012

The aim of current paper was to investigate the possibility of increasing the toxicity of calcium hypochlorite (Ca(ClO)2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on Escherichia coli K-12 by preliminary enrichment of culture media by carbon dioxide (CO2). For this purpose, the microbes sensitivity to H2O2 or/and Ca(ClO)2 at normal and CO2-enriched medium was studied by spectrophotometric, radioisotopic, and electronmicroscopic methods. Ten-minute preincubation in CO2-enriched medium enhanced the toxic effect of both H2O2 or/and Ca(ClO)2 on bacteria as a result of induced growth inhibition, compared to no-CO2 enriched group. Additionally, changes in cell morphology and proliferation were observed. It was demonstrated that the preliminary incubation of microbes in CO2-enriched culture media in nonsupercritical concentration elevate the toxic effect of H2O2 or/and Ca(ClO)2 on microbes. This can serve as a novel, effective, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly approach for water purification from bacteria, further improving the protection of the environment and human health.
Social Factors in Childhood and Adulthood Associated with Adult Obesity in African American and White Women
Authors: Saunders Milda R. , Watson Kalycia Trishana , Tak Hyo Jung
Published: April 2012

Background. Few studies have examined how individual and neighborhood poverty in childhood and adulthood influence the likelihood of adult obesity. We used a longitudinal cohort to examine these associations. Methods. Our cohort consisted of children born in Baltimore, MD, USA with followup as adults from ages 27 to 33. We used logistic regression to examine the multivariate association between individual and neighborhood poverty in childhood and adulthood and adult obesity, (body mass index ), based on self-reported height and weight. Results. Of the 986 female respondents, 82% were African American and 18% were White. Both groups had similar rates of adulthood obesity (African American 25% versus Whites 26% , ), and similar rates of poverty as children and adults. There was no statistically significant association between individual or neighborhood poverty during childhood and the likelihood of adult obesity. Adults at risk for overweight or overweight as children had significantly greater odds of adult obesity (OR 2.8 and 12.1, resp.). Conclusion. In this sample of women with high rates of childhood and adulthood poverty, obesity rates were high. Childhood risk for overweight and overweight were strongly associated with adult obesity. Individual and neighborhood poverty in childhood were not independently associated with adulthood obesity.
WEFTA Interlaboratory Comparison on Total Lipid Determination in Fishery Products Using the Smedes Method
Authors: Karl Horst , Oehlenschläger Jörg , Bekaert Karen , Bergé Jean-Pascal , Cadun Asli , Duflos Guillaume , Poli Bianca Maria , Tejada Margarita , Testi Silvia , Timm-Heinrich Maike
Published: April 2012

Lipid determination by the Smedes method was tested in an interlaboratory trial performed by nine laboratories from seven countries belonging to the West European Fish Technologists Association Analytical Methods Working Group. Five samples of fish and fishery products with different lipid contents, including two blind duplicates, were distributed among the participants. All laboratories applied a slightly modified Smedes method, which included extraction of lipids by cyclohexane and isopropanol, transfer of lipids to the cyclohexane phase by addition of water, phase separation by centrifugation, and gravimetric lipid determination. The results indicate that the RSD for reproducibility (RSDR) was between 4.11 and 6.31% for samples with moderate (7%) and high (14%) lipid content, depending on the sample. Larger SDs among the laboratories were obtained for a cod sample with low lipid content of 0.5%. The method is judged to be suitable as a routine method for lipid determination in fish and fishery products.
Rapid Method for the Determination of Vitamins A and E in Foods Using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Shim You -Shin , Kim Ki-Jin , Seo Dongwon , Ito Masahito , Nakagawa Hiroaki , Ha Jaeho
Published: April 2012

A rapid and novel ultra-HPLC (u-HPLC) method for the determination of vitamins A (retinol) and E (α-, γ-, and δ-tocopherol) in foods was validated in terms of its precision, accuracy, and linearity. The u-HPLC separation was performed on an RP C18 column (particle size 2 μm, id 2 mm, and length 75 mm), followed by fluorescence detection. The recovery of retinol was more than 84.58%; the LOD and LOQ of the u-HPLC analysis were 0.015 and 0.045 mg/kg, respectively. The intraday and interday precision was less than 9.12%. The recoveries of α-, γ-, and δ-tocopherol were more than 81.37%; the LOD and the LOQ were 0.014, 0.002, and 0.001 mg/kg and 0.042, 0.005, and 0.004 mg/kg, respectively. All calibration curves had good linearity (r2 = 0.99) within the test ranges. The novel, rapid method coupled to u-HPLC can provide significant improvements in the speed, sensitivity, and resolution compared with a conventional HPLC method.
Development and Validation of a Reversed-Phase HPLC Method for Determination of Alkaloids from Papaver somniferum L. (Papaveraceae)
Authors: Acevska Jelena , Dimitrovska Aneta , Stefkov Gjoshe , Brezovska Katerina , Karapandzova Marija , Kulevanova Svetlana
Published: April 2012

An HPLC method for the separation of six target alkaloids from Papaver somniferum L. (morphine, codeine, oripavine, thebaine, papaverine, and noscapine) was developed, optimized, and validated. The chromatographic behavior of these alkaloids was investigated using a reversed-phase chromatography at acidic and alkaline pH. The effects of ion-pairing agents, pH value of the mobile phase, concentration of the buffer components, mobile phase organic modifier, and column temperature were studied. Regardless of the large differences in their pKa values, all alkaloids were separated within a close retention window, and good peak shape was achieved for each of the six alkaloids. The proposed method has adequate selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, and reproducibility and is applicable for poppy straw.
Determination of Total Cholesterol in Meat and Poultry by Gas Chromatography: Single-Laboratory Validation
Authors: Dinh Thu T N , Thompson Leslie D , Galyean Michael L , Brooks J Chance L , Boylan Mallory L
Published: April 2012

The primary objective of this study was to determine the intralaboratory performance of a cholesterol determination method that combines direct saponification of a 1 g meat or poultry sample and GC quantification of liberated cholesterol without derivatization. Cholesterol was detected at 11.96 min using a GC-flame ionization detector (FID) system. With a 0.005 mg/mL 5 α-cholestane internal standard and 0.008 to 0.020 mg/mL cholesterol standard series, the FID response was linearly correlated to standard concentrations with a coefficient of determination of 0.995 and a response factor of 0.66. The LOD and LOQ were 1.24 and 4.00 mg/100 g, respectively. Cholesterol could be analyzed within 6 days of preparation with high precision (CV of 0.92 to 2.69%) and accuracy (recovery of 93.24 to 100.56%). This simplified procedure allows for decreased errors and increased productivity, and the method proved to be reliable and able to withstand practical variation in procedural application. The method has been applied routinely with excellent precision to update data on the cholesterol content of beef, pork, and chicken in the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.
Determination of Vitamin B12 in Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals by Surface Plasmon Resonance: First Action 2011.16 (Test Kit Method)
Authors: Vyas Pathik , O'Kane Anthony A , Dowell Dawn
Published: April 2012

At the “Standards Development and International Harmonization: AOAC INTERNATIONAL Mid-Year Meeting” on June 29, 2011, an Expert Review Panel (ERP) agreed to further examine AOAC Official MethodSM 2011.01, “Determination of Vitamin B12 by Surface Plasmon Resonance,” for use with infant formula and adult nutritionals. The original collaborative study was conducted using the Biacore Q™ biosensor instrument and the Biacore Q™ Qflex™ Kit Vitamin B12 Pl. Samples included in the study were infant formula, cereals, premixes, vitamin tablets, dietary supplements, and baby food. Eleven laboratories participated in the collaborative study. The results demonstrated a repeatability RSD (RSDr) of 1.59–27.8 and HorRat values for reproducibility of 0.34–1.89 in samples with levels ranging from ppm to ppb. The assay studied is a label-free protein binding-based assay that uses the principle of surface plasmon resonance to measure the interaction between vitamin B12 and a specific binding protein by passing a portion of the prepared sample extract combined with binding protein solution across a functionalized sensor chip. The response from the functionalized sensor chip is given as free-binding protein, as the mixture binds to the prepared surface of the chip. The ready-to-use Qflex Kit Vitamin B12 PI provides the reagents and accessories necessary to perform this assay. AOAC Method 2011.01 was approved by the AOAC Method Committee on Food Nutrition for Official First Action status, applicable to a wide range of food products, dietary supplements, and multivitamin premixes. After evaluation of the validation data available, an ERP agreed in June 2011 that the method meets standard method performance requirements, as articulated by the Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals. The ERP granted the method First Action status, applicable to infant formula and adult/pediatric nutritional formula.
Development of Incurred Reference Material for Improving Conditions of Gluten Quantification
Authors: Bugyi Zsuzsanna , Török Kitti , Hajas Lívia , Adonyi Zsanett , Poms Roland E , Popping Bert , Diaz-Amigo Carmen , Kerbach Sandra , TömösKöZi Sándor
Published: April 2012

Celiac disease and wheat allergy are the most common adverse reactions triggered by cereal proteins, mainly gluten, which is one of the 14 allergenic food ingredients that must be labeled on food products in the European Union (EU). To meet the requirements of this regulation, reliable analytical methodology for proper quantification of gluten is necessary. However, validation of presently used methods (ELISA and lateral flow device) is limited partly due to the lack of reference methods and incurred reference materials. To solve this problem, the goal of our work was to develop an incurred reference material for the quantification of gluten under the auspices of EU-FP6 funded Network of Excellence MoniQA. During this work, we produced a processed model product (cookie) containing gliadin (major allergenic fraction of gluten) in a defined amount. This paper addresses the development process of this material together with the associated problems (insufficient homogeneity and low recovery) and their solutions. As a result, an incurred food matrix was produced on a laboratory-scale with a potential use as a reference material. The model product was tested by an ELISA method followed by a comparative study of commercially available ELISA kits to investigate the applicability of the product. Preliminary results of this study are also presented.