Abstract: Leprosy is also called as ‘numbing skin disease’ or ‘Hansen’s disease’. The stigma attached to leprosy persists in many countries. At an early stage, leprosy may manifest itself only in mild skin lesions, but if left untreated, these lesions can become much more noticeable. Some people with leprosy may have a distinctive odour caused by infected ulcers. Since ancient times, leprosy has been interpreted as God’s punishment of the sinful. Other causes of leprosy which people have been reported to traditionally believe are witchcraft, a curse, trespassing of food taboos, contagion, and being hereditary. Leprosy is more a social problem rather than just a medical disease. A review of the literature showed that the stigma, misconceptions and negative attitudes towards leprosy patients are prevalent in most communities. Most misconceptions pertaining to leprosy, in particular the beliefs in heredity, evil spirits and contact with prostitutes as causes of leprosy, were found to be most common. In addition, deformities arising as a consequence of untreated leprosy played a significant part in increasing the stigma to leprosy. Health providers should also learn problem-solving skills to assess the patients’ reasons for defaulting treatment or follow-up and act on them. This means that they should be trained on techniques to analyse and motivate behaviour change.

Prolymphocytic leukemia T (PLL-T) is a rare entity of mature lymphoproliferative syndrome, characterized by its evolution but especially by its poor prognosis. It is usually revealed by hyperlymphocytosis in the blood. We report a case of prolymphocytic leukemia T, revealed by blood hyperlymphocytosis higher than 800 G/L, diagnosed at the My Ismail military hospital of Meknès, Morocco.

Drug related adverse effects may be minor or major. Pharmacists have an ethical obligation to notify the appropriate bodies whenever adverse effects where suspected. Stroke affect one’s physical and communication abilities, as well as causing emotional changes and difference in behaviour. The study underlines the importance of monitoring stoke survivors emotional and behaviour alternation. The objective is to determine the drug utilization review in post stroke patients and to assess the adverse reactions in stroke management. Cross-sectional prospective study was performed for six-month and the patients diagnosed as stroke and wished to participate were identified. All the subjects were evaluated for adverse drug reactions through telephonic or face to face interview. Out of 52 patients 71.15% were males and 28.84% females. The mean age of the patients was 63.21 (±10.19) years and 61% patients had Blood Pressure, followed by 55% Dyslipidymia, 42% Diabetes Mellitus. A total of 38 incidences of ADRs were observed during the study period for 15 patients. The highest reported ADR was GI bleeding (17.3%) followed by GI Distress and Constipation. Causality of ADRs found to have probable 74%, possible 23.6% and definite 2.6% and no doubtful categories. The study results cleared that majority of the stroke patients have adequately severe neurological impairment and need assistance to carryout activities of daily living. Majority of the patients seems to have mistaken the symptoms of ADR to be due to the disease being treated and old age. Drug utilisation studies should be carried out in large number of population and at different locations which helps to reduce the drug related problems and improve the rational use of drugs by the patients.

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the causative agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) in small ruminants. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of 0.5% and 1% formalin killed prototype vaccine of C. pseudotuberculosis in bucks and does. A total of 24 healthy bucks and does were equally divided into four groups of 6 animals. Groups A and B were vaccinated with 0.5% and 1% formalin killed prototype vaccine and groups C and D were kept as positive (+) and negative (-) control groups, inoculated with plain vaccine adjuvant. After booster vaccination at the 6th week, groups A, B and C were experimentally inoculated with 2mL of 106 cfu of live C. pseudotuberculosis subcutaneously. On the 12th week, all animals were euthanized and samples of reproductive organs and pituitary glands of both bucks and does were collected. Bacterial isolation and identification was done on the basis of morphological characteristics and PCR detection. Based on the bacterial culture results, 3 samples each were Positive for C. pseudotuberculosis colonies from bucks in groups A and B, while 4 samples were positive from does in group A and only 1 from does in group B. All bucks and does from groups A and B showed negative PCR amplifications in all samples. This study showed that 1% formalin killed prototype vaccine of C. pseudotuberculosis is effective in preventing the spread of the bacteria to the reproductive organs and pituitary glands of both bucks and does. Thus, it will be a suitable preventive measure against CLA in small ruminants.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) lack adequate skills to manage and monitor their cash management practices leading to limited financial growth hence inability to compete while increasing their assets, opening more branches and growing their sales. This study sought to analyze effect of cash management practices (cash holding practices, use of technology and cash pooling practices) as well as analyze the combined effect of the cash management practices on financial performance of SMEs in Nyeri town, Kenya. The study employed a descriptive research design with target population being the registered SMEs in Nyeri town. Data was collected using a self-administered semistructured questionnaire from a sample population of 62 SMEs operating in Nyeri town and registered by the business registrar’s office in Nyeri County. Data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) to generate descriptive and inferential statistics. Results obtained indicated that cash holding practices and use of technology in cash management had a relevant effect on financial performance of SMEs in Nyeri. The study recommended that all stakeholders in business operations ranging from suppliers, customers, and financiers should embrace use of technology to facilitate electronic data interchange. Future research could focus on comparative study of large organizations to establish whether the same factors affecting SMEs financial performance also affect large businesses.

Abstract: The present research work aimed at the effect of five photoperiod regimes on the health status of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) assessed through hematological components. The results revealed no significant (P<0.05) changes in haemoglobin and RBC count as compared to normal in all the treatment groups. However significant (P<0.05) changes were recorded in immune component of fishes subjected to light duration ranging from 24h to 12 hours. Differential blood count, neutrophil and monocyte count was reduced in LD24 to LD12, as compared to control. However, thrombocytes showed higher titres in stress condition of fishes, subjected to longer light durations.

Abstract: The antimicrobial resistance among gram negative bacteria is increasing among patients, community and healthcare workers. Determination of these species and their resistance profile is mandatory for successful empiric antibiotic therapy. The aim of the current study was to investigate the prevalence of drug resistant gram negative isolates from community and healthcare workers in Iran. A total of 10 previous published studies were found while searching internet searching engines including PubMed, Google scholar, Sciverse, and so on. The key words of “gram negative”, “drug resistant”, “healthcare workers”, “community” and “Iran” were searched in the noted searching engines. The publications related to the healthcare, patients and hospital settings were excluded from the study. Moreover, healthcare workers of children and adults/ageing and in addition, community settings were included in the study. Data were analyzed with Exel software. Among the published studies, most of bacterial species among healthcare workers and community were in Enterobacteriacea family, mostly E. coli (3.75%) and K. pneumonia (3.74%), A. bumanii (3%), P. aeruginosa (1.25%), E. aerugenes (1.2%), Proteus spp (0.1%) and other species. Two publications were about caregiver’s mobile phones and 2 were associated with hands. Moreover, community and workers hands were more contaminated than phone and coats. The results showed that community and healthcare workers can play a role in contamination spread. Hands of healthcare workers were the highest level of contamination. The publications on MDR isolates were scarce.

Radiographic imaging is essential in diagnosis, treatment planning and follow-up in endodontics. The interpretation of the 2-D images can be confounded by superimposition of both teeth and supporting structures and the geometric distortion that is present. These problems are overcome by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) which produces accurate 3-D images which can be used for pre-surgical assessment. The spatial relationship of the specific tooth root(s) undergoing the surgical procedure (and the associated bony destruction) to adjacent anatomical structures can be precisely assessed. The radicular cyst arises from epithelial remnants stimulated to proliferate by an inflammatory process originating from pulpal necrosis of a non-vital tooth. Radiographically, the classical description of the lesion is a round or oval, well circumscribed radiolucent image involving the apex of the tooth. Radicular cyst is usually sterile unless it is secondarily infected. This case report presents successful management of an infected radicular cyst associated with a permanent maxillary left central incisor (21) in a 38 year old male by complete enucleation of the cyst and using platelet rich fibrin (PRF) and bone graft to fill in the bony cavity to hasten the healing.

This paper examined the barriers/challenges facing the evaluation profession in Nigeria and the role of the Nigerian Association of Evaluators (NAE) towards improving the profession. The paper also draws lessons from other African countries on how to improve evaluation practice in Nigeria. The findings indicate that paucity of evaluation skill, partial implementation of national monitoring and evaluation systems, lack of monitoring and evaluation ownership, nonutilization of evaluation results and funding are the main barriers/challenges confronting evaluation conduct in Nigeria. The paper therefore recommends that the NAE should improve the technical capacity of evaluation practitioners in Nigeria; organize workshop for cross learning and experience sharing among practitioners; supporting monitoring and evaluation ownership and canvass for utilization of evaluation results. The paper finds from cross country analysis that institutionalizing the evaluation of public polices is a veritable step towards a National Evaluation Policy in Nigeria, which will promote good monitoring and evaluation practice in the country. Overall, we recommend that policy makers in Nigeria should aim to use evaluation in improving the effectiveness of public policies.

Abstract: This study aimed to analyze the influence of company image and service quality on customer loyalty through customer satisfaction in the environment laboratory PT. Nusantara Water Centre Jakarta. Data research conducted on selected customers during the period from April 2016 to November 2016. The study design is descriptive, where the method of sampling is done by purposive sampling (sample representative of the population). From the number of customers per month around 400 customers, the number of respondents that were sampled set by 161 respondents Method of quantitative analysis using confirmatory factor analysis by using SEM tools Lisrel software version 8.71. The results showed the company image has a positive significant effect on customer satisfaction, service quality has a significant positive effect on customer satisfaction, company image has a significant positive effect on customer loyalty, and service quality has a significant positive effect on customer loyalty and satisfaction significant positive effect on customer loyalty. Quality of care is the most dominant variable toward service loyalty.

This study focuses on the efficiency of the school’s Financial Administrative Assistant in managing the school’s financial based on their level of knowledge and skills (including financial management, receipt management, management of cash book and petty cash, purchase management, and the preparation of the annual financial statements), as well as the level of accountability and attitude motivation in school financial management. It is a quantitative study sample which was comprised of 65 primary school Administrative Assistant in the South Kinta district. The data was collected by using questionnaire survey with 64 items divided into 4 parts, Part A (4 items - information and background of the respondents), Part B (40 items - the knowledge and skills), Part C (12 items - a level of accountability) and Part D (8 items - attitudes and motivation). Descriptive analysis (percentage and mean) was used to obtain information for each variable. The results showed that the level of Administrative Assistant efficiency is high. Level of knowledge and skills that show a mean of 3.55, a level of accountability that show a mean of the 3.59 and attitude and self-motivation showed an overall mean value of 3.49. Therefore, based on these findings the school's financial management practitioners such as Head Master, District Education Office Assistant, Education Department (NRD) and the Department of School Audit to take proactive measures that will be beneficial to all parties involved in the efforts to improve the schools’ financial management.

Abstract: As observed in Nigeria presently, both the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and unemployment rates are increasing simultaneously. This occurrence however, invalidates the existence of Okun’s Law in Nigeria. In the same vein, Nigerians output could as well be more capital intensive to labour intensive. This research work sets out to finding the reason for the violation of Okun’s Law in Nigeria. Using Weighted Grouped Logit Distributed lag model (WGLDL) with quarterly series from 1991 to 2012. Present quarter and last-two quarter unemployment rates are negatively related with the present quarter Real Gross Domestic Product of Nigeria. The immediate past quarter unemployment rate is positively related with the present quarter Real Gross Domestic Product by approximately 16 units rise in RGDP for a unit rise in the immediate past quarter unemployment rate. This is a result of behavioural habits of employees; when people are retrenched from their jobs last quarter, the efficiency, effectiveness, and output/productivity of the remaining workers increase indefinitely as the means to retain their jobs in the midst of the fear and job insecurity that have enveloped them. This they do on the axiom that the less or least effective and efficient workers were retrenched last quarter. Consequently, a positive relationship. Empirically, the probabilities that the national output will fall for every raise per quarter unemployment rates diminishes and tends to zero. Simply put, the failure that unemployment will result to reductions in the national output is almost certain (tends to one). In the same light, change in probability also tends to zero as unemployment rates in Nigeria increases. This therefore suggests, holding every other thing constant, increase in unemployment rates in Nigeria will probably not affect or reduce our National output.

In the present study, a series of N-[6-fluoro-7-substituted-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl]-4-[2-(3-nitrophenyl)-4-oxo-thiazolidin-3-yl]benzenesulphonamide and N-[6-fluoro-7-substituted-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl]-4-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)-4-oxo-thiazolidin-3-yl]benzenesulphonamide derivatives were synthesized in good yields and characterized by FTIR, 1HNMR, mass spectral and elemental analyses. All synthesized compounds were evaluated for their preliminary in vitro anti-mycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37 Rv strain by tube dilution assay method. Some selected synthesized compounds were also evaluated for cytostatic activities against malignant human cell lines: cervical (HeLa), bone marrow (K-562) and kidney cell (HEK-293)

Abstract: The notion of gender inequality has been a long lasting phenomenon and have been empirically investigated in so many economies by researchers like Blau & Kahn, Jones & Makepeace, etc. in the past. This work sets out to investigate the existence of gender discrimination in the heart of wage earnings. The dataset used is the Current Population Survey of the United State, the analysis showed that the likelihood of earning higher wages depends on the gender of the worker as male workers are likely to end more than their fellow female counterparts are in the same employment category. However, this likelihood depends on the Educational Qualifications of the workers (both male and female). Therefore, this works has empirical shown that there exists gender discrimination in the heart of wage earnings which is not independent of College Degree.

The aim of this study is to evaluate increases in temperature on the external root surface during endodontic treatment with three different rotary file systems. Fifty human mandibular first premolars with single root canal were selected. All root canals were instrumented using a size 20 H file, and the canals were irrigated with 5% sodium hypochlorite solution. The samples were randomly divided into the following three groups of 15 teeth: Group 1: The Protaper Next Rotary Files X1 and X2; Group 2: The Mtwo rotary File 20/06 and 25/06 Group 3: The Hyflex rotary File 20/06 and 25/06. During the preparation, the temperature changes were measured in the middle third of the roots using a noncontact infrared thermometer. The temperature data were transferred from the thermometer to the computer and were observed graphically. Statistical analysis was performed using the oneway ANOVA analysis of variance at a significance level of 0.05. The increases in temperature caused by the Hyflex rotary file system were lower than those of the other files. The Mtwo rotary file showed the highest temperature increases. However, there were no significant differences were noticed between the Protaper Next and Hyflex rotary files in terms of temperature increase during root canal preparation. Mean temperature increases no higher than 3.4ºC were recorded for any of the system examined, which indicates that these instruments are safe for the surrounding periodontal tissues.