Promoting Peace Amid the Terror: The Work of the Ahmadiyya in Miami

This study examines the argument that Islam is far removed from violence in any form. It also delves into the discussion that many of the terrorist activities that have been carried out in America have much to do with homegrown terrorism than those related to Islam. At the center of this research is the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community which sees itself as an authentic form of Islam attuned to American values and offering a concise and rational version of Islam. This study explores the various outreach initiatives and activities of the Ahmadiyya that supports the counter-narrative that Islam does not condone violence. Following the various engagements and activities by the Ahmadiyya that are conducted both online and physically with the Hispanic and African community in Miami, the study concludes that the counter-narrative of Islam by the Ahmadiyya is far from the violence perpetrated in its name

Investigating the Presence of Regional Economic Growth Convergence in the Philippines using Kalman Filter

This paper investigates the presence of stochastic and dynamic convergence of the 14 regional economies in the Philippines in terms of per capita Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) using regional panel data from 1988 to 2007. Stochastic convergence, which indicates convergence of regions in the long-run, is tested using Levin, Lin & Chu (LLC) and Im, Pesaran & Shin (IPS) panel unit root tests. The presence of convergence, on one hand, indicates that the economically laggard regions are gaining on the economically better-performing regions with respect to per capita GRDP. On the other hand, the lack of convergence indicates a need to reevaluate existing regional and national economic policies on development. Dynamic convergence reveals several convergence characteristics of individual regions over time. Dynamic convergence is determined by the time-varying parameter (TVP) model derived using the Kalman Filter. The paper proceeds to examine the individual convergence behavior of each region based on the value of the estimate of the parameter of the TVP. The results show that out of the 14 regions studied, seven regions are found to converge towards the average of the national per capita GDP growth rate over 1988 to 2007 while six regions lag behind the average of the national per capita GDP growth rate over the same period. No region converges towards the economic growth rate of National Capital Region, the lead region used in the study.Panel Unit Root Test, Time-varying Parameter (TVP) Model, Kalman Filter, Stochastic Convergence, Dynamic Convergence

Determination Of The Performance Measure Of Executive Compensation

This paper investigates the principal-agent model of executive compensation through an empirical study of the interaction between CEO compensation and firm performance. As a multi level regression analysis that specifically shows the weight of the variance of the main independent variable, above and over the other independent variables, the stepwise multiple regression is employed to induce a statistical model of the pay-performance sensitivity. The stepwise multiple regression offers insights into the different weight assigned to the performance measure. In this respect, variances of the variables related to the change in the market value of firms are specifically weighted against each other in order to determine specific characteristics of the pay-performance relationship. The analysis is consistent with the agency theory that firm’ executives take advantage of the lack of control by firms’ owners to pursuit their personal interests. As the United States’ economy tumbles, the change in CEO total compensation does not seem to follow the accounting criteria of performance measures typically specified in management compensation contracts. The study reveals a lack of relationship between CEO compensation and firm performance. The link running from the change in the market value of firms and the change in CEO total compensation is flawed. The incentives faced by shareholders to discipline executives would be able to increase the performance of firms. It would be absurd for the compensation committee to rely on the single firms’ total assets value as the performance measure of CEO compensation. Other performance vehicles, such as returns, earnings, and cash flows should be considered in the determination of executive compensation

A study of Antimicrobial Activity, Acute Toxicity and Cytoprotective Effect of a Polyherbal Extract in a Rat Ethanol-HCl Gastric Ulcer Model.

The decoction of the aerial parts of Rhynchosia recinosa (A.Rich.) Bak. [Fabaceae] is used in combination with the stem barks of Ozoroa insignis Del. (Anacardiaceae), Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Excell. [Celastraceae] Entada abyssinica Steud. ex A.Rich [Fabaceae] and Lannea schimperi (Hochst.)Engl. [Anacardiaceae] as a traditional remedy for managing peptic ulcers. However, the safety and efficacy of this polyherbal preparation has not been evaluated. This study reports on the phytochemical profile and some biological activities of the individual plant extracts and a combination of extracts of the five plants. METHODS: A mixture of 80% ethanol extracts of R. recinosa, O. insignis, M. senegalensis, E. abyssinica and L. schimperi at doses of 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body wt were evaluated for ability to protect Sprague Dawley rats from gastric ulceration by an ethanol-HCl mixture. ytoprotective effect was assessed by comparison with a negative control group given 1% tween 80 in normal saline and a positive control group given 40 mg/kg body wt pantoprazole. The individual extracts and their combinations were also tested for antibacterial activity against four Gram negative bacteria; Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Salmonella typhi (NCTC 8385), Vibrio cholerae (clinical isolate), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (clinical isolate) using the microdilution method. In addition the extracts were evaluated for brine shrimp toxicity and acute toxicity in mice. Phytochemical tests were done using standard methods to determine the presence of tannins, saponins, steroids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids and terpenoids in the individual plant extracts and in the mixed extract of the five plants. RESULTS: The combined ethanolic extracts of the 5 plants caused a dose-dependent protection against ethanol/HCl induced ulceration of rat gastric mucosa, reaching 81.7% mean protection as compared to 87.5% protection by 40 mg/kg body wt pantoprazole. Both the individual plant extracts and the mixed extracts of 5 plants exhibited weak to moderate antibacterial activity against four G-ve bacteria. Despite Ozoroa insignis being toxic to mice at doses above 1000 mg/kg body wt, the other plant extracts and the combined extract of the 5 plants were tolerated by mice up to 5000 mg/kg body wt. The brine shrimp test results showed the same pattern of toxicity with Ozoroa insignis being the most toxic (LC50 = 10.63 mug/ml). Phytochemical tests showed that the combined extract of the five plants contained tannins, saponins, steroids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids and terpenoids. Flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids are known to have antioxidant activity. CONCLUSION: The combined extract of the five plants exhibited a dose-dependent protective activity in the rat ethanol-HCl gastric ulcer model. The extracts also exhibited weak antibacterial activity against four Gram negative bacteria and low acute toxicity in mice and brine shrimps. Although the results support claims by traditional healers who use a decoction of the five plants for treatment of peptic ulcers, more models of gastric ulceration and proper animal toxicity studies are needed to validate possible clinical use of the polyherbal extract. It is also evident that the doses of the crude extracts showing protection of the gastric mucosa are too large for realistic translation to direct clinical application, but further studies using bioassay guided fractionation are important to either identify more practical fractions or active compound/s

Students’ and lecturers’ perceptions about the effectiveness and challenges of online mathematics instruction during the Covid-19 partial lockdown

This study sought to assess the nature of online mathematics teaching and learning, the associated challenges and the support system put in place for students due to COVID-19 at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Ghana. The study employed concurrent mixed method design. A sample size of 507 comprising 490 students and 17 lecturers respectively were used for the study. In the study, proportionate stratified sampling, and list-based sampling frame were employed by the researchers to select the sample of mathematics students whereas census was used to include lecturers. Data for the quantitative phase were garnered using questionnaire while interview was used for collecting data for the qualitative phase. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyse the quantitative and qualitative data respectively. From the study it was deduced that, among the challenges facing students and lecturers in the online teaching and learning of Mathematics are; high cost of internet data bundle, unreliable internet connection, unfamiliarity with some online platforms, difficulty in accessing some online platforms using smartphones, and difficulty in teaching some topics online. In addressing the issue of encountering difficulty in teaching some topics online, we recommend the University’s Management to partner with agencies that host learning resources platforms to provide mathematics contents to help students explore. Again, we recommend that University’s Management commences discussions with telecom providers to allow zero charges on the use of smartphones for content download from the university’s learning sites

Abdominal tuberculosis mimicking intra-abdominal malignancy: A case report

Background: Abdominal TB usually presents with nonspecific findings and may thus mimic a multitude of gastrointestinal disorders. Abdominal tuberculosis may therefore present as large and palpable intra-abdominal masses usually arising from lymphadenopathy which may mimic lymphomas and other malignancies. We present the report of a patient with suspected abdominal malignancy diagnosed with abdominal tuberculosis.Methods: The case records of a patient who presented at the university of Port Harcourt Teaching hospital, medical unit with an abdominal mass diagnosed with abdominal Tb and a review of the literature utilizing google, PubMed, medline and existing literature was utilized.Results: Abdominal Tb is a major contributor to the burden of EPTb with reports of increasing incidence. Based on the wide spectrum of symptoms and signs originating from various parts of the abdomen the disease may be misdiagnosed.Conclusion: In conclusion abdominal Tb still remains a disease which should be kept in mind and considered by clinicians in Nigeria as it is a great mimic and may be hard-todiagnose. A high index of suspicion and the use of ancillary, radiologic and surgical techniques should be employed in order to make a correct and prompt diagnosis.Keywords: Abdominal Tuberculosis; Intraabdominal Mass; Nigeri

Robust Stability Analysis Using the Small Gain, Circle, Positivity, and Popov Theorems: A Comparative Study

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57852/1/SmallGainTCST1993.pd

Effects of Teaching Students through Problem-Solving on Students’ Academic Performance in Problem-Solving

The study aimed to determine how teaching students problem-solving techniques affected their academic problem-solving performance. A quasi-experimental research design was used for this study. The BIA Lamplighter College of Education's level 400 students make up the population for the 2022–2023 academic year. However, all upper primary students were chosen for the study because Problem-solving was a subject taught in that grade. There were three groups of 126 upper primary students in total. Intact groups were used in the study. The problem-solving technique was used in conjunction with the whole class, cooperative, and think-pair-share teaching methods while teaching Groups 1, 2, and 3 (G1, G2, and G3). Scores from the pre-and post-tests were used to gather information. The data were analyzed using ANOVA, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks, Kruskal-Wallis Test, both Wilcoxon W and Mann-Whitney U. The study's conclusions suggest that teaching through Problem-solving may enhance students' problem-solving abilities. The study also discovered that both students taught using whole-class teaching strategies and students led using cooperative learning and think pair teaching strategies benefit from the techniques. After using the "teaching through" problem-solving approach, there was no discernible difference in performance between male and female students

A Homotopy Algorithm for the Combined H-squared/H-to Infinity Model Reduction Problem

The problem of finding a reduced order model, optimal in the H-squared sense, to a given system model is a fundamental one in control system analysis and design. The addition of a H-to infinity constraint to the H-squared optimal model reduction problem results in a more practical yet computationally more difficult problem. Without the global convergence of probability-one homotopy methods the combined H-squared/H-to infinity model reduction problem is difficult to solve. Several approaches based on homotoppy methods have been proposed. The issues are the number of degrees of freedom, the well posedness of the finite dimensional optimization problem, and the numerical robustness of the resulting homotopy algorithm. Homotopy algorithms based on two formulations - input normal form; Ly, Bryson, and Cannon's 2 x 2 block parametrization - are developed and compared here