Influence of Emcompress Concentration on the Physical Properties of Tablet containing Lactobacillus spp. and Guava Leaves Extract

Emcompress are widely used in tablet formulation because it has good compressibility. The objective of this research is to investigate the influence of emcompress concentration on the physical properties of tablet containing Lactobacillus spp. and guava leaves extract. Tablets containing Lactobacillus spp. and guava leaves extract prepared into four series and compressed by direct compression method using emcompress as a filler. Each formula using emcompress with different concentration i.e.: 0% (F1), 0,1% (F2), 0,19% (F3) and 0, 5% (F4). All tablet met the pharmacopoeia requirements during following test:hardness and friability. The disintegration time and moisture contents did not meet the pharmacopoeia requirements. Conclusion of this research is: increasing the concentration of emcompress will increase the tablet’s hardness and decrease the tablet’s friability but did not influence other physical properties of tablet containing Lactobacillus spp. and guava leaves extract

Computer vision syndrome and ergonomic risk factors among workers of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: an institutional-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundComputer vision syndrome (CVS) is the most pressing public health concern that affects vision and reduces quality of life and productivity, particularly in developing countries. Most of the previous studies conducted in Ethiopia focus on the knowledge and personal risk factors of bank workers. Moreover, ergonomic workstation design was not objectively assessed, which could hinder the implementation of effective intervention strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to determine CVS and ergonomic factors among commercial bank workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.MethodsAn institutional-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 466 study participants from May 26 to July 24, 2022. A multistage sampling technique was applied to select the study participants. Data were collected via a standardized tool of CVS (CVS-Q). Besides, workstation ergonomics were pertinently assessed. The collected data was entered into EpiData version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 26 for data analysis and cleaning. Multivariable logistics regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with CVS. The variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant factors.ResultsPrevalence of CVS was 75.3% (95% CI: 71.2–79.2%). Blurred vision, eye redness, and headache, 59.8%, 53.7%, and 50.7%, respectively, were frequently reported symptoms. Glare (AOR = 4.45: 95% CI: 2.45–8.08), 20–20–20 principle (AOR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.06–3.67), wearing non-prescription eyeglasses (AOR = 4.17; 95% CI: 1.92–9.06), and poor workstation (AOR = 7.39; 95% CI: 4.05–13.49) was significantly associated with CVS.ConclusionThe prevalence of CVS was found to be high. Glare at work, ignoring the 20–20–20 principle, wearing non-prescription eyeglasses, and poor workstation ergonomic design were independent predictors of CVS. Therefore, comprehensive interventional activities like adhering to the 20–20–20 principle, avoiding the use of non-prescription glasses, minimizing glare, and improving workstation ergonomic setup are essential to prevent CVS

Reflective practice as a component of continuous professional development and tutor competences in teaching mathematics in the primary teachers’ colleges in north-west Nile Uganda: a case of certificate in teacher education proficiency

In 2007, the Aga Khan University, Institute for Educational Development, Eastern Africa (AKU-IED) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) of the Republic of Uganda in support of Certificate in Teacher Education Proficiency (C-TEP) for all tutors in Ugandan Primary Teacher‟s Colleges (PTCs). The C-TEP course had two face-to-face components of intensive professional development in designated venues, interspersed by Reflective Practice (RP). The course focused on empowering the tutors with skills to improve their competences in teaching practices. Underlying this course was the belief that skills development and competences in teaching process are of utmost importance for the tutors in supporting teacher trainees to improve their learning. This study set out to examine the extent to which RP influenced tutor competences in mathematics teaching in the PTCs in the West Nile region of Uganda. A case study underpinned by interpretative prototype was employed. Data was collected using questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis and lesson observation. The research participants included one principal, one deputy principal, one examinations secretary, two tutors and twenty students. The study was underpinned by observation by Dewey (1933) that we do not learn from experiences…we learn from reflecting on experiences. The study found out that tutors employ Reflective Practice unconsciously at varying and insignificant levels within; scheming and mathematics lesson planning, methods of teaching mathematics, assessment of mathematics learning outcomes and self-evaluation. This calls for sensitization of the tutors through Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to the understanding of Reflective Practice (RP) so that they can derive benefits of Reflective Practice (RP) such as improved mathematics teaching practices. Key ideas: Reflective Practice, Tutor Competence, Continuous Professional Development and Mathematics Teaching

Surface Quotient Singularities and Bigness of the Cotangent Bundle

This thesis studies the bigness of the cotangent bundle of algebraic surfaces. We investigate the components determining bigness of the cotangent bundle $\Omega^1_X$ of smooth models $X$ in the birational class $\mathcal {Y}$ of an orbifold surface of general type $Y$, with a focus on the contribution given by the singularities of $Y$. A criterion for bigness of $\Omega_X^1$ is given involving only topological and singularity data on $Y$. We single out a special case, the Canonical Model Singularities (CMS) criterion, when $Y$ is the canonical model of $\mathcal Y$. We study the singularity invariants appearing in the criterion and determine them for $A_n$-singularities. Knowledge of these invariants for $A_n$-singularities allows one to evaluate the $(c_2,c^2_1)-$geographical range of the CMS criterion and compare it to other criteria. We obtain new examples of resolutions $X$ of hypersurfaces Y\subset \PP^3 (with lower degrees) and of cyclic covers $Y$ of $\mathbb{P}^2$ branched along line arrangements with $\Omega^1_X$ big.We also determine a closed formula for the $A_n$-singularity invariants (for all $n$) that appear in the CMS Criterion. Our approach of calculating these invariants is of interest on its own. We determine, for a given degree $m$, the space of symmetric differentials on the complement of the exceptional locus $E$ of the resolution of a germ of an $A_n$ singularity that extend holomorphically across $E$. We give a full description of the function $\hslash^0(A_n,m)$ giving the codimension of these spaces for each $m$. We also characterize the precise extent to which the poles along $E$ of the symmetric differentials on the complement are milder than logarithmic poles

Fructan metabolizing enzymes in Vernonia herbacea (VELL.) Rusby.

A ocorrência de frutanos em espécies de Asteraceae foi amplamente documentada para a flora da região de cerrado da Reserva Biológica e Estação Experimental de Moji Guaçu. Dentre estas espécies destaca-se Vernonia herbacea, uma planta perene que apresenta órgãos subterrâneos de reserva, denominados rizóforos, que acumulam altos teores de frutanos do tipo inulina. Seu crescimento sazonal é caracterizado pela brotação das gemas existentes nos rizóforos, na primavera, seguida de floração e crescimento vegetativo intenso no verão e dormência no inverno. O conteúdo de frutanos diminui durante a brotação e floração, pois este carboidrato parece ser utilizado para a regeneração dos ramos aéreos que ocorre nesta fase. Estudos preliminares mostraram que a FEH, responsável pela mobilização dos frutanos, apresenta atividade elevada apenas durante a brotação; a despolimerização dos frutanos nos rizóforos de V. herbacea nesta fase foi evidenciada pelo aumento de açúcar redutor, especialmente frutose. O presente estudo teve como objetivo principal a análise da atividade das enzimas envolvidas no metabolismo de frutanos e análise do conteúdo e da composição de frutanos em rizóforos de V. herbacea induzidas à brotação. A brotação foi induzida pela remoção dos ramos aéreos e as atividades das enzimas FEH , SST, FFT e INV foram determinadas a cada quatro dias durante um mês após a poda. Um aumento na atividade da FEH foi observado entre os dias 13 e 20 após a poda, o que coincidiu com o início da brotação dos novos ramos que ocorreu no 13º dia. Este resultado sugere que a despolimerização de frutanos e a brotação são processos concomitantes em V. herbacea, que ocorrem naturalmente durante o ciclo fenológico, mas que também podem ser induzidos em outras fases do ciclo fenológico pela remoção dos ramos aéreos. A FFT parece atuar junto à FEH na diminuição do tamanho das cadeias de frutanos durante a rebrota, enquanto a SST é inibida devido, possivelmente, à interrupção do fornecimento de sacarose aos rizóforos pelos órgãos aéreos. Para a caracterização e purificação parcial da FEH de rizóforos de V. herbacea foram utilizados rizóforos de plantas induzidas à brotação através da remoção dos ramos aéreos. O extrato bruto apresentou, para atividade de FEH, pH ótimo de 4,5, temperatura ótima em 30 ºC e curva sigmoidal de concentração de substrato, sugerindo tratar-se de uma enzima alostérica. Esta enzima também apresentou maior especificidade por ligações do tipo b-2,1 do que sobre ligações b-2,6, e maior afinidade por frutanos de cadeias curtas quando comparadas com frutanos de cadeias longas. Utilizando precipitação com sulfato de amônia, cromatografia de afinidade e cromatografias de troca aniônica e catiônica, quatro frações com atividade de FEH foram purificadas. Destas quatro frações, duas foram submetidas à cromatografia de exclusão molecular, sendo que os pesos moleculares estimados para uma delas foi de 21 kDa e para outra, esta medida situou-se entre 155 e 39 kDa, devido à ampla faixa de exclusão da coluna utilizada. Os pesos moleculares das outras duas frações foram estimados por SDS-PAGE, sendo que as bandas visualizadas corresponderam a 81,3 e 57,5 kDa para uma e 57,5 kDa para a outra fração.The occurrence of fructans has been reported in native species of a cerrado area of Reserva Biológica e Estação Experimental de Moji Guaçu. Vernonia herbacea, one of these species, presents underground organs named rhizophores which accumulate fructans of the inulin type as reserve carbohydrate. The seasonal growth pattern exhibited by plants of V. herbacea includes sprouting of buds from the rhizophores in spring, followed by a period of flower development and vegetative growth in summer, and dormancy in winter. The fructan content decreases during sprouting and flowering due to mobilization of this carbohydrate during the regeneration of the new shoots. Preliminary studies showed that FEH, the enzyme responsible for the mobilization of fructan, shows high activity only during sprouting. Fructan mobilization was detected by the increase in the amount of reducing sugar released, namely fructose. The aim of this work was to analyze the activities of the enzymes of fructan metabolism, FEH, SST, FFT and invertase and the fructan contents in rhizophores of plants induced to sprouting by defoliation. The enzyme activities were measured every 4 th day for a month after defoliation. Sprouting of new shoots started around the 13 th day, while an increase in FEH activity was detected between 13 and 20 days after defoliation. The results suggest that fructan depolimerization and sprouting are concomitant processes in V. herbacea that occur naturally during the phenological cycle; however, these processes can also be induced by defoliation during other stages of the phenological cycle. FFT seems to act together with FEH by catalyzing the decrease in fructan chain size during shoot regrowth, while SST was inhibited, possibly, due to interruption of sucrose supply to rhizophores from the aerial organs. The characterization and partial purification of FEH were done using rhizophores from plants which were induced to sprouting by defoliation. The optimal pH and temperature for FEH activity were pH4,5 and 30ºC, respectively. The substrate concentration curve exhibited a sigmoid shape, suggesting that FEH of V. herbacea is an alosteric enzyme. Additionally, this enzyme shows more specificity to b-2,1 than to b-2,6 linked fructan and higher affinity for short chain when compared to long chain fructans. Four fractions presenting FEH activity were partially purified by a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation, affinity chromatography, and anion and cation exchange chromatographies. Two of these were submitted to size exclusion chromatography and the apparent molecular size for one of them was 21 kDa and for the other it was estimated to be between 39 and 155 kDa, due to the wide exclusion limit of the column used. The molecular size of the next two fractions were estimated by SDS- PAGE and the visualized bands corresponded to 81.3 and 57.5 kDa for the first fraction and to 57.5 kDa for the second one