African literature projects deeply embedded and enduring patterns of thoughts alongside the feelings and behavior of the society from which it is drawn. In so doing, it recounts the struggles and challenges of the communities for which it is written. The Nigerian writer as an African, probes and responds to the yearning of his nation. This paper is set to focus on the northern Nigerian woman/writer because, the African woman both as a writer and character in the society is surrounded by societal issues that affects her directly or indirectly. As such, the writer is faced with the task of voicing out these issues, projecting female characters that bear the burden of womanhood and the effect of this burden, using the two northern Nigeria writers in the texts, The Hound and Habiba in examining the societal burden placed on the northern woman and the effect of this burden on her and the nation. An effect that turns out to instill a negative personality and perception in these characters as the struggle for self- actualization and the challenges of being women or are destroyed by these impediments.

Abstract: Retail environment in Malaysia was changed especially in food and grocery segment when hypermarket format was introduced by foreign retailer in 1993. In this paper we tried to understand consumer decision during shopping food and grocery either hypermarket is a main location or not. An empirical study, which was carried out in Shah Alam with 400 grocery shopper as respondent showed no significant relationship between shopping decisions and demographic characteristic except marital status. On the other hand, only two out of five trips characteristic showed significant relationship namely trip frequency and companion during shopping in hypermarket.

Abstract: Depositional system analysis is an important part of basin analysis,also, it is the foundation of sequence stratigraphic research, and of important significance for understanding the evolution of the basin. It plays an important role in studying distribution of sedimentary facies, reservoir evaluation and hydrocarbon accumulation. According to the well logging data and core data analysis, the sedimentary system is a complete and typical contraction system domain, the sedmentary microfacies it mainly develops are underwater distributary channel, debouch bar and sheet sand. Combined with the north provenance, the northern sedimentary system decided that the sand bodies in the north region of the study area are more developing. Also, the area that river flowed has a great scale.

Abstract: Interlayers commonly found in the river sand inside, by studying how it is formed, for the restoration of river sand deposition process，reservoir genetic mechanism has an irreplaceable role. Based on the principle of sedimentology analysis, interlayers and sand body is the product of a certain deposition, both closely integrated into a unified whole, by studying the causes interlayers can be assisted genesis of reservoir sand bodies. Different types of channel sand bodies have different internal configuration, the underground reservoir sands internal structure is difficult to directly study, such as changes in its occurrence is difficult to identify, and interlayer is relatively easy to study. Thus, the sand can be studied by studying the interior configuration thin interlayer. Because of its low permeability or permeable, interlayer flooding on oil displacement agent has a certain shielding effect, interlayer internal fluid reservoir seepage can play spoiler, limiting the role. Channel sand reservoir characteristics can be changed according to their internal Interlayer displacement path, influence displacement efficiency, thereby affecting the inner layer of remaining oil distribution, especially for high water cut stage remaining oil distribution in complicated situations, interlayer study can effectively guide field development.

Abstract: Women’s health status is affected by complex biological, social and cultural factors, which are interrelated and only can be addressed in a comprehensive manner. Reproductive health is determined not only by the quality and availability of health care, but also by socio-economic development levels, lifestyles and women’s position in society. Women health is compromised not by lack of medical knowledge, but by infringement on women’s human rights including reproductive health rights. Poor women, who lack adequate food, basic health care, or modern contraception, suffer grave consequences for reproductive health. A woman who is malnourished and in poor health runs much greater risks in reproductive health issues and usually suffers without proper treatment and dies in most of cases. The aim of the present study to find out the factors affecting women’s reproductive health in Punjab. Multistage sampling techniques were used for data collection. At the first stage two Districts i.e. Faisalabad and Multan of Punjab province were selected randomly. At the second stage four tehsils, two from each district (Tehsil Faisalabad and Tehsil Jaranwala from District Faisalabad and Tehsil Multan and Tehsil Shujabad from District Multan) were selected randomly from the selected districts, than 12 localities, three from each tehsil (Chak No. 59/JB, 30/JB & 31/JB from Tehsil Faisalabad, Chak No. 60/GB, 55/GB & 54/GB from Tehsil Jaranwala and Khokhran, Mithal Shah and Gondian from Tehsil Shujabad and Ghalu, Sanhbai and Hasnabad from Tehsil Multan) were selected randomly. A sample of 300 respondents (25 from each locality) selected purposively. It was found that majority of the respondents were eating vegetables and less than a half of them were drinking milk on daily basis. It is clear from the findings that the respondents had many health problems i.e. headache (61.7%), high blood pressure (60.3%), back pain (54.7%), swelling on different body parts (41.3%), irregular menses (33.0%), hand, facial swelling (32.7%), urinary complications (28.3%), cramps and abdominal pain (26.7%), vaginal bleeding (25.0%) and some of them had anemia and heavy bleeding. Less than a half of the respondents (45.0%) used any contraceptive method and one-fourth of them were observed its side effects. Bi-variate analysis shows that education, income and age at marriage were positively associated with reproductive health status and age and total no. of pregnancies were negatively associated with reproductive health status. There is a dire need to improve the health facilities available at government Health Centers especially at BHUs to address the reproductive health problems that will surely improve women’s health status.

Abstract: Self-directed learning is increasingly used in higher education and has special importance in the context of healthcare education. In this single-center cross-sectional study, we aimed to study self-directed learning readiness among medical students at Umm Al-Qura University. Eight hundred medical students from the Faculty of Medicine at Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, participated in the study. Participants were from all academic years (1st year to 6th year) and included both genders. They completed a self-administered questionnaire that identified demographic characteristics and also contained Fisher’s Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS). Among these students, 99 (12.4%) scored below average on the SDLRS, 293 (36.6%) obtained an average score, and 408 (51%) scored above average. The highest SDLRS mean score was 4.41 for the item “I want to learn new information,” and the lowest SDLRS mean score was 2.94 for the item “I set strict time frames.”About half of the medical students scored above average (i.e., were high achievers), which is encouraging. Implementing time management skills into different teaching modules might improve the teaching outcomes.

Abstract: In this paper, we propose a non-monotone trust region algorithm based on conic model for unconstrained optimization problems. The method combines a non-monotone technique and a trust region method. Different from the usual trust region methods, the sub-problem of our new algorithm is the conic minimization sub-problem. The theoretical analysis indicates that the new method has the global convergence under some reasonable conditions.

Abstract: In this paper, we propose and analyze a new non-monotone pattern search method for unconstrained optimization problems. Actually, we combined a new strategy of non-monotone technique with the traditional pattern search method. Then some properties of the new algorithm are analyzed. Theoretical analysis shows that the new proposed method has a global convergence under some mild conditions.

Abstract: The oil shale of the down area ES4 in the center Damingtun Depression which is wide distribution and large thickness. The ES4 depression is the most important source oil rocks and has a good tight oil reservoir, what is the key area of tight oil exploration and development in Liaohe Depression. The key factors affect the fracture extent of tight oil reservoir rock and mining effectiveness is the brittleness of rock. By transverse and longitudinal wave sonic logging data to calculate the object of the study area tight oil reservoir horizon dynamic style modulus and Poisson's ratio dynamic, application Rickman rock brittleness index calculation formula to calculate the tight oil reservoirs brittleness. On this basis, Damintun Depression ES4 tight oil reservoirs in the oil shale carbonate quality oil shale, silty shale, siltstone and shale lithology dolomites five kinds of brittleness analyzed establish superiority brittleness index lithologic sequences. The results show that the best index of brittleness shale dolomite, the brittleness index greater than 40 accounted for 92.43%. It is advantageous purpose layers of dense oil Hirai fracturing.

Abstract: Large numbers of drugs are used in the treatment of hypertension and Calcium Channel Blockers are an important group among them. Cilnidipine is a new calcium channel blocking drug distinguished from other L-type calcium channel blockers with additional N-type of calcium channel blocking property. Cardioprotective, renoprotective and neuroprotective action of cilnidipine can provide additional benefit in form of reduced morbidity in the management of hypertension by controlling sympathetic over activity.

Abstract: Emotional and behavioral disorders are potential causes of disciplinary problems in the classroom. The main interest of the study is the EBD and achievements of Grade 1 pupils in public schools of South Cotabato. About 210 Grade One pupils and teachers were involved as subjects and respondents of this inquiry. A questionnaire in EBD was given to teachers for them to carefully assess the pupils’ ODD, CD and ADHD level. The survey tools were modeled after the Noanxiety.com resources and the Vanderbilt Rating Scales. Records of pupils’ gender, curricular and extra-curricular achievements were taken from the teachers’ own class records. Gathered data were suitably tabulated and presented in tables and chart. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to treat the data. Specific tools like percentages, Multiple Linear Regression Analysis, mean and t-test were employed to analyze the collected data. As found out, the Grade 1 pupils’ EBD level is singly, and collectively of moderate levels. They have very good level in curricular and extra-curricular achievements alike. Male pupils have relatively higher EBD level than the females. Inversely, the female pupils have comparatively higher achievement than the males. The pupils whose schools were located in highly urbanized places have higher EBD level than those in the less urbanized areas. Also, the achievements of the pupils from schools situated in less urbanized areas were higher than those in the highly urbanized areas. This study concluded that only the pupils’ attention deficit hyperactivity disorder was linked to pupils’ achievement. Gender and school location also affected pupils’ EBD and achievement levels.

Abstract: The binary quadratic equation represented by the negative pellian y2=60x2-15 is analyzed for its distinct integer solutions. A few interesting relations among the solutions are also given. Further, employing the solutions of the above hyperbola, we have obtained solutions of other choices of hyperbolas, parabolas and special Pythagorean triangle.

Abstract: Mothers and newborns are vulnerable to illness and deaths during the postnatal period. Postnatal period is the important part of maternal health care as the serious and life threatening complications can occur in postnatal period. The health of the mother is regarded as the indicator of health of the society so postnatal care is important for the health of mother and newborn as well. A descriptive research design was used in this study. Non probability purposive sampling technique was used to select the postnatal mothers. One hundred ninety six postnatal mothers were interviewed face to face using structured questionnaires. Most of the respondents 79(40.31%) belongs to 22-25 age groups and the mean age was 24.12 years. Majority of the respondents 182(92.86%) were Hindu. All the respondents were literate. Out of 196, 146(74.48%) of the respondents, got information from friends and family. Most of the respondents 123(62.76%) had average level of knowledge on postnatal care. Highest knowledge was in the area of danger sign of mothers and newborn and the lowest in the areas of family planning. The overall mean percentage was 64.34. There was significant association of level of knowledge with selected demographic variables; occupation (χ2=5.008) and education level (χ2=48.75). Mothers had moderate level of knowledge about postnatal care. Highest knowledge was present in danger sign and lowest in family planning. Awareness program is required to improve maternal knowledge on postnatal care.

Abstract: Trust region methods are a class of numerical methods for optimization. They compute a trial step by solving a trust region sub-problem where a model function is minimized within a trust region. In this paper, we review recent results on non-monotone trust region methods for unconstrained optimization problems. Generally, non-monotone trust region algorithms with non-monotone technique are more effective than the traditional ones, especially when coping with some extreme nonlinear optimization problems. Results on trust region sub-problems and regularization methods are also discussed.

Abstract: Type 2 DM is rapidly raising as a global health care problem that threatens to reach pandemic levels by 2030. Type 2 Diabetes mellitus is a disease with no cure and chronic disease that results in major morbidity and mortality. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the glyceated hemoglobin control and to determine factors affect on glycemic control among type 2 diabetes outpatients attending diabetic clinics at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM). The study design was observational prospective longitudinal follow-up study, the study was conducted with sample of 1077 Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus outpatient recruited via attended the diabetes clinics at HUSM. HbA1c is parameter to measure the glyceated hemoglobin control. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent variables that affect the glycaemic control. The majority of patients 794 (73.7%) did not achieve target of HbA1c levels ≤ 7.0%. It has been found that age, race and antidiabetic medications are the factors that affect on the HbA1c.New strategy to improve the current status of control of diabetes is needed. The study recommends that health-care providers should pay more attention to type 2 dm patients with older age, Malay race and antidiabetic medications. The present study recommends that more time, money and attention must be given to the treatment of diabetic patients.